• Tavistock Cup, Day One

Tiger impresses at Tavistock Cup

Tiger Woods hit the ball with intent at Lake Nona © PA Photos

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Tiger Woods showed no signs of injury as he made a blistering return to action on the first day of the Tavistock Cup.

Woods' participation at next month's Masters looked in doubt when he pulled out of the WGC-Cadillac Championship on account of an Achilles problem.

The former world No. 1 issued a statement that the problem was not serious, but he needed to prove his well-being with the opening major of the year two and a half weeks away.

He elected tee it up at the prestigious four-club event in Florida and he looked in fine form alongside his Albany team-mate Justin Rose.

Playing in the four-ball format, Woods started with a flurry of birdies and he and Rose carded a better-ball score of nine-under 63.

His play off the tee was solid and his swing fluent, while when he found trouble his scrambling skills were for the most part impressuve.

Woods did not show any signs of discomfort, walking freely, and he got within a couple of yards of playing partner Bubba Watson on the long-drive hole.

Commenting on his swift return to the course, Woods said: "I got the treatment and did the smart thing and not playing through it, hence why I am back as fast as I am.

"I have done it before and played through not just pain but injury. I have done that and set myself back. I did it last year and missed two major championships because of it. I want to be ready for Augusta, I am out here and having fun and it is all good.

"I have to do the right thing. I have played through things that I should not have and been out for a long time. I did the smart thing and am back in a week."

Woods' Albany side are sat in third place, three shots adrift Isleworth who are flying high on 26-under. Bo Van Pelt and Sean O'Hair were the standout performers for Isleworth, as their better-ball combined for a 13-under score.

Lake Nona, who feature Ross Fisher and Graeme McDowell, are second on 24-under, while the uber-exclusive English club Queenwood - represented by the likes of Paul McGinley, David Howell and Tom Lewis, are the trailers on 17-under.

The competition concludes on Tuesday with the singles and each team will count six 18-hole individual scores to find the winner,

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