TIGER WOODS insisted he’s simply grateful to be competing again despite finishing near the tail of the field on his return to competition at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
Woods continued to be upbeat after posting a final round 76 that including taking a double bogey at the final hole for a third occasion and end with a four-under par tally on the Albany course.
The 14-time Major winner’s last round also included five birdies but also three bogeys as well as two other double bogeys.
But while everyone of the 17 others competitors competing in the Bahamas praised the efforts of Woods, the soon-to-be 41-year old was thrilled to have got through the biggest hurdle of his 21-year career.
“In the big picture, it feels good to be out here again, playing again and competing again, and trying to beat the best players in the world," said Woods.
“I’ve missed it a lot. I am entering my 21st season and I’ve been doing this for a very long time and this stretch where I have been out of almost a year-and-a-half has been rough, and the last three years have been rough.
“I’ve had some very difficult times but I’ve had some great friends who have helped in that time to get me to this point, so I am just so thankful to be back out and playing again.”
Woods went into his first event since August 2015 with a new TaylorMade M2 driver, a fairway wood he said he found in one of the Albany sheds and using a new Bridgestone golf ball.
And a look at his stats over the four days Woods was 10-under par over the front nine of the course but six over on the inward half while a check of the five par fives shows Woods to be only four-under over the four days.
“This week was pretty good and I felt like I hit the ball well but looking back I made some silly mistakes," he said.
“I played the par fives awful taking three doubles today and I probably played the 18th in about 25-over (smiling) so that pretty much sums up the week.
"But whether I go back to using an adjustable driver I don't know that one yet. I am still testing. I'm still trying to figure things out. I'm still in that process of I just settled back in on a couple of things this week.
"For instance, the 3-wood I found, I found it in the back a shed here early this week. It's still new for me here, okay, so let's just take a little time."
Woods was heading home to his two children to continue working on his game with strong rumours he will return to competition in 2017 at the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January.
If so, it would be Woods first appearance in the event since he and Rory McIlroy were paired together for the first two rounds in 2013.
And while Woods was delighted with his comeback, Russell Knox was heading back to the US mainland to prepare for Thursday’s start at the Greg Norman-hosted Shark Shootout in Naples, Florida.
Knox finished two shots behind Woods signing for a last round 74 and a disappointing two under par tally.
"It’s been an enjoyable week and great to be here but playing-wise we didn’t see the best of my game," he said
“I really just struggled knowing how to play the course and things like pushing too hard on the par fives when I should have been laying up and vice-versa.
“I also didn’t putt well and it’s towards the end of the year, and it’s been a long year for me.”
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama collected his fourth victory in his past five events in signing for a 73 and win the event by two shots with an 18-under par tally.
Open Champion Henrik Stenson muscled his way to second place shooting a 68 for a 16-under par score.
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