Tiger Woods is set to return to competitive golf this week for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and played nine holes Tuesday morning at the Firestone Country Club.
Woods hasn't played a round on the PGA Tour since the Players Championship in May, when he withdrew after nine holes because of injuries to his left knee and Achilles' tendon.
A seven-time champion at Firestone, Woods walked the course without a problem and said afterward he expects to be ready to go for Thursday.
"I still haven't been in a competitive environment yet, but the shots felt very crisp, very clean. I was very pleased," Woods said of his play Tuesday. "Tomorrow is another day to refine it and I have to be ready to go by Thursday."
Woods has a new caddie for the week, childhood friend Bryon Bell. The 14-time major champion parted ways with Steve Williams, his caddie of 12 years, a few weeks ago.
"I felt it was time for a change," Woods stated when asked about Williams, who was on the bag for all but the first of the superstar's major titles. "Stevie and I had a helluva run. We had a great partnership for a long time, but I thought it was just time to change things up."
Woods added that he's still looking for a permanent caddie, one "who's been there before."
As for the injuries, Woods said he walked the course and hit shots Tuesday without pain. He said the leg is 100 percent.
"It feels solid, stable, no pain," Woods said of his leg. "That's why I took so long to come back. It feels good to be able to hit balls, walk around."
Woods was initially hurt during the third round of the Masters in April and said he came back too early from the injuries when he tried to play at the TPC Sawgrass a month later.
