SAN DIEGO – In his prime, Tiger Woods would barely look at a fellow competitor and if he did it was to deliver a stare so icy it would rip right through you. Just how he will be in the heat of battle again remains to be seen as we’ve not had the pleasure of a fully healthy Woods since 2014. But one thing is certain – this is a new Tiger Woods. Both physically – with his fused back – and mentally. On Tuesday at Torrey Pines, Woods returned to a regular PGA TOUR event for the first time in a year, playing a nine-hole practice round as the sun rose with Jason Day and Bryson DeChambeau. His appearance at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open – where he missed the cut a week before withdrawing in Dubai and going in for further back surgery – is his only full field TOUR event since the Wyndham Championship in August of 2015. Four back surgeries since March 2014 had many worried this week would never come again. But now, at this stage, there is much hope and excitement at what a fit Woods can do. A ninth-place finish in the Bahamas at the limited field Hero World Challenge in December surprised and impressed many. A year earlier – on a similar comeback trail – he finished at the back end of the same field. And while he had shown some good signs – he was still playing rigid and still in pain. This time around, the 79-time TOUR winner looks freed up in his swing. This time he waited after surgery. This time he was patient. “The other times he came back I don’t think he was ready and he probably came back too soon,â€� Day said after the round Tuesday. “This time he definitely looks ready; I think his swing is really nice, he’s hitting the driver a long way and he looks like he’s got some speed, which is great. And his touch is coming back.â€� It was true that in his nine holes he hit some powerful drives, mint irons and wedges and holed plenty of putts. But he also found some of Torrey’s famous deep rough on occasions. Having won the Farmers Insurance Open seven times plus the U.S. Open and junior world titles at Torrey, it is a track he’s comfortable with. And the man himself feels ready. After a brief break following the Bahamas event Woods began serious preparations for his return. “I feel good,â€� Woods said. “Before the Hero I was basically given the OK probably about three or four weeks prior to the tournament and I thought I did a pretty good in that prep time. “Now I’ve had a little more time to get ready for this event. I’ve played a lot more golf and overall, I feel like I’ve made some nice changes. It’s just a matter of coming out here and competing again.â€� Having had the setbacks in the past Woods admitted he had to dial it back at times as his enthusiasm to return built. “It’s just that I’m trying to build in golf endurance. So, I’m hitting a lot of golf balls and building up my endurance,â€� he said. “You have to do it. You have to beat balls for a little bit of time to build up your endurance and muscles. I feel like I’ve done that and now it’s time to play a tournament.â€� For a long time, players wouldn’t speak to Woods unless spoken to. You could almost see the literal parting of the waves as he walked through the range or practice areas in a direct line to his destination. He was all business. But now, at 42, Woods has evolved into a different human. In near darkness Tuesday he greeted Day on the range with a huge grin and a bear hug. Yes. A hug. Woods was all smiles with other players, caddies and officials alike – actively seeking out Justin Rose on the putting green to give another bro cuddle. At one point in the morning round, Woods went looking for one of Day’s errant drives in the rough even though Day himself had given up on it. This version of Woods is clearly a friendly guy. DeChambeau, who was playing with Woods for the first time, had to pinch himself at times. On their final hole he admitted to trying to pound his driver with something extra to show the veteran what he had. He wanted to impress. “There were a couple of moments I was like – I am playing with the greatest,â€� DeChambeau laughed. The 2017 John Deere Classic winner believes everyone wants to see Woods back to his best, and he’s expecting it to happen. “I expect he will come back to full form, I really think so,â€� he said. “His passion is there; his drive is there and if he gets it going it is going to be scary for everybody again.â€� Day, who has become friends with Woods over the past four years or so, warned to keep expectations tempered, just for now. “He looks impressive; it was good to see,â€� Day said “You take (Torrey Pines) last year and the Dubai tournament out and he hasn’t really played in two years. “I think the biggest thing is to not get too far ahead, or think he’s going to come back and win straight way. “He may win straight away, but you never know.â€� Just the hope he might has everyone wishing it was Thursday already.
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