Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed was impressed by fit-again Tiger Woods after their nine hole practice as the 14-time Major champion prepares to return to the competitive circuit.
‘He’s always been a little longer than me, but some of those drives today he got out there.
‘He was hitting flight-ed, flat cuts, high cuts, low draws, high, just soft draws, moving it both ways with his driver. If he starts getting command of that and feeling good, we’re going to have some fun.’
Woods last teed it up at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January but withdrew due to back pain before undergoing his fourth back surgery in three years in April. While the world speculates on what Woods will be able to achieve on his return, Reed is not joining the chorus of those with high expectations.
‘People are putting all these expectations on him,’ Reed added. ‘Is he gonna come back? Is he gonna play well? Who cares? We’re just glad to have him back. We all want a healthy Tiger.
‘If [he] stays healthy … I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back and started winning a lot of tournaments again. If he stays healthy.’
Woods will play alongside Justin Thomas in the first round with other groups to watch including Matt Kuchar/Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama/Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose/Tommy Fleetwood and Dustin Johnson/Brooks Koepka.
