Albany, Bahamas …..

Tiger Woods returns to surely the most-watched round of golf this year singling out Rory McIlroy for his support over the past 10 months.

It has been 10 months since Woods last was inside the ropes and that was in January’s Dubai Desert Classic.

The wait is now over with Woods hosting Thursday’s start to the Hero World Challenge and again in the Bahamas.

Woods addressed the pain yesterday (Monday) he endured ahead of undergoing fusion surgery in April including having to roll over in bed and forced to urinate in a bucket given his pain.

The former long-running World No. 1 finally managed to get himself out of bed to begin practicing first over the three holes he has in back yard.

Woods then began short-irons practice early October at the exclusive Medalist club in Jupiter, Florida.

It was not to late last month and earlier this month Woods began working on all 14-clubs with McIlroy among a few closer friends in playing practice rounds in the company of the 14-time Major champion.

“To be able to come out here and be able to do what I’ve been doing the last few weeks with the guys, it’s been a lot of fun,” said Woods.

“I played some great rounds with the guys at home.  They’ve all been fantastic because I’ve gotten to know them through the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup and I’ve really become very close to a few of them.

“I played with Rory and just loved that as Rory is such a great guy.

“I played golf with (Daniel) Berger, JT (Justin Thomas), Rickie (Fowler), Dustin (Johnson), and it was fun.

“It was fun to be able to do that again, which I hadn’t done in years.”