Tiger Woods, the 15-time major champion, made a compelling return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, shooting a three-over-par 75. His absence from the game since April due to injury and subsequent ankle surgery had left fans eager to witness his comeback.

Despite a promising start, Woods encountered challenges on the course, culminating in a double-bogey on the 15th hole after an errant drive. Reflecting on his performance, Woods shared with the Golf Channel, “I was rusty, I didn’t have my feels.” He acknowledged his struggle to close out the round, lamenting, “I kind of hung through there, and I did not finish off my round when I needed to. Consequently, it kind of went sideways at the end.”

The competition witnessed Americans Brian Harman and Tony Finau leading the pack at five under, followed closely by England’s Matt Fitzpatrick three shots behind. Notably, European Ryder Cup players Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, and Viktor Hovland navigated the challenging course, maintaining competitive positions. Follow your favourite golfer with the best golf gambling odds from Nextbet. 

Woods, having caddied for his son in a tournament earlier in November, expressed signs of readiness for his return, despite acknowledging post-round soreness. “I’m a little bit sore, that’s for sure,” Woods remarked, emphasizing the need for preparation and improvement for the subsequent rounds.

The golfer underwent fusion surgery to address post-traumatic arthritis from a 2021 car crash, an injury that kept him away from the sport for an extended period. 

While indicating a lack of concerns with the ankle, Woods highlighted other persistent injury issues, aiming to manage his schedule carefully. He aspires to participate in one tournament per month in 2024, viewing this event as a pivotal step in shaping his competitive plans for the upcoming season. Get the latest updates from the world of golf only on Nextbet Sports.