Tiger Woods says mental errors cost him on competitive return from injury at Hero World Challenge – ‘I was rusty’

Tiger Woods has said he felt “rusty” after making his comeback from injury at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods made his first competitive appearance since withdrawing from the Masters in April on Thursday due to ankle problem which required surgery later that month.

The former world No. 1 began positively before dropping four shots on three consecutive holes on his back nine to finish the day on three-over 75. He finished eight strokes behind leaders Brian Harman and Tony Finau.

Woods was under par until a double bogey at the par-five 15th, as he found a bush off the tee, and then bogeyed over the next two holes to slip further down the leaderboard.

Woods says mental errors were the reason for his performance.

“I was rusty, I didn’t have my feels and conditions were tough early,” Woods told the Golf Channel.

“I kind of hung through there, and I did not finish off my round when I needed to. Consequently, it kind of went sideways at the end.

“I had really a lack of commitment through most of the middle part of my round and finishing. I just didn’t quite commit to what I was doing and feeling.

“Instead of reacting to it, I was thinking about doing it. Then as I was thinking about it, should I do this or not, by then I’m pulling the trigger.

“I shouldn’t really pull the trigger. Hit a bad shot. I kept doing it time and time again.

“It was a lack of commitment to what I was doing and feeling. I’ve got to do a better job of it. I wanted to compete, I wanted to play. I felt like I was ready to compete and play.

“I hit it solid most of the day. As I said, I just didn’t mentally do the things I normally would do and I need to do.”

Woods, who has been paired with Rickie Fowler on Friday, admitted he felt sore “everywhere” after his opening round.

“I’m sore, there’s no doubt about that,” Woods added. “We’ve got some work to do tonight. Tomorrow [Friday] get back in the gym and activate and get ready for it. Hopefully hit some better shots.

Asked specifically where he was sore, he said: “Everywhere…My leg, my back, my neck. Just from playing, hitting shots and trying to hold off shots. It’s just different at game speed, too. Game speed’s a lot different than at home speed.”