Tiger Woods makes triumphant return

Tiger Woods made a triumphant return from injury, defeating Australian Brendan Jones 3 and 2 in the first round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship yesterday.

Tiger Woods made a triumphant return from injury, defeating Australian Brendan Jones 3 and 2 in the first round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship yesterday.

Woods was playing his first tournament since his US Open triumph last June. Eight days after that victory, the 14-time major champion had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Back in business: Tiger Woods, who made his comeback after an eight-month injury lay-off in action at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship yesterday. pic/AFP

"I felt for sure it would be more stiff than it was," Woods said of his knee. "It held up well. I feel good."

The US superstar set golf fans salivating when he announced last Thursday that he would return to defend his title here.

Woods was quick out of the blocks, making a birdie at the first hole and taking a 2-up lead at the second, where he hit his approach within four feet and Jones conceded.

It was just the kind of start Woods had said he needed to shake the rust off his game.

"I got off to a quick start, which certainly helped," he said. "I felt like I hit it good all day, except for a couple of loose iron shots."

Woods stretched his lead to 3-up when Jones bogeyed the 12th, then Woods eagled the par-five 13th at Dove Mountain to take a 4-up lead with five to play.

Jones showed he wasn't finished yet with an eagle at 15 that left him 3-down, but when Woods saved par from a bunker to halve the 16th it was all over.

Woods was joined at the top of the draw by Spain's Sergio Garcia, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Fiji's Vijay Singh.