Tiger Woods teed off in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge Thursday to launch his long-awaited competitive comeback, the 14-time major champion having missed 16 months following back surgery. The former world No. 1, now at 898th in the rankings, sent his first shot into the rough left of the first fairway at the 7,302-yard Albany Golf Club layout to end his longest career layoff after 466 days. Playing alongside fellow American Patrick Reed in windy conditions, Woods - clad in black shirt, pants, cap and shoes - blasted his approach onto the green 15 feet from the hole. His birdie putt slid two feet past the cup and he tapped in for a par at the 423-yard dogleg right first hole. Woods hosts the 18-man invitational event on an Ernie Els-designed par-72 course complete with natural Caribbean brush and sand collecting wayward shots from a field that includes six of the world's top-10 players. "Can't wait to get back out there and mix it up with the boys," Woods tweeted two hours before his opening tee shot. Excitement built around the isolated Bahamas billionaire enclave after Woods, whose yacht is among those docked near the course, made two eagles Wednesday in a pro-am round. He sank a 15-foot eagle putt at the par-5 third, a 12-foot eagle putt at the par-5 ninth and closed with a 15-foot par putt. "He's playing on a course he knows pretty well," said South Africa's Els, a four-time major champion. "I think he has a good opportunity to get a score under his belt and from there you never know." Woods, who turns 41 on Dec. 30, had not played competitively since he shared 10th at the PGA Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, in August 2015. He has struggled with knee and leg injuries in recent seasons, playing only 32 competitive rounds last year and just 21 in 2014 after failed comeback bids. At last year's Challenge, Woods wondered if he might never play again as he battled back pain that faded with time. Schwartzel takes charge In South Africa, five birdies on the back nine from home favorite Charl Schwartzel catapulted the South African into a share of the lead after the first round of the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship Thursday. Defending champion Schwartzel, aiming for a fifth Dunhill title, is tied with Irishman Paul Dunne at six under-par at the Leopard Creek Country Club, with six players a further shot back. That group includes Scotland's Scott Jamieson, who carded an eagle, seven birdies and four bogeys in a rollercoaster opening round. If Schwartzel, 32, can keep going and win Sunday he will become only the fourth player to win the same European Tour event five times, joining Bernard Langer, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods in an exclusive club. He failed to fire on his front nine and turned at one under-par, but found his touch on the greens heading back towards the clubhouse and added five birdies in a faultless round. Dunne, 24, is seeking a first European Tour win and his card included eight birdies, but was spoiled by a double-bogey on the par-four ninth. European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke started his 2017 tour season with a disappointing 78 that included a woeful nine at the par-five 18th hole. Dodt leads in Australia Australia's Andrew Dodt carded eight birdies to be the clubhouse leader at a storm-hit Australian PGA Championship, with former winner Adam Scott three off the lead at Royal Pines Thursday. Two-time European Tour winner Dodt came home in 31 to be sevenunder for the tournament after a 65 and hold a two-shot lead over New Zealander Ryan Fox and American Julian Suri. American Harold Varner III made a late charge to five-under after four consecutive birdies and then another on the 13th before having to scurry for cover as a thunderstorm deluged the course and forced play to be abandoned for the day. Almost half the field are still to complete their first round at will return at 5:00 a.m. Friday, with the second round teeing off at 7:00 a.m. World number seven Adam Scott, who has finished first and second in his last two appearances at Royal Pines, was in a group of players three shots off the lead. LPGA tournaments The Ladies Professional golf Association (LPGA) Wednesday announced its 2017 schedule including four new tournaments and an increase of $4.35 million in official prize money. Joining the 35-event LPGA Tour schedule are events in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and in Scotland and New Zealand, with a record $67.35 million in prize money on offer.
