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BETHESDA, MD.

Tiger Woods returns to golf with big hopes, realistic expectations and no pain for the first time in nearly two years.

Woods made his first public appearance in golf shoes since he walked gingerly off the golf course at Doral on March 9 with back pain that first presented itself in August 2012. He had back surgery to alleviate a pinched nerve on March 31.

Asked for an opening comment on where he is with his recovery, Woods smiled and said, “I’m right here.”

“It’s been an interesting road,” Woods said. “This has been quite a tedious little process, but been one where I got to a point where I can play competitive golf again. And it’s pretty exciting.”

It feels that way for all of golf, which has been without its biggest draw for five tournaments that he ordinarily would have played, including the Masters for the first time, the U.S. Open and two events where he was the defending champion.



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