Tiger Woods has admitted that he feels "nervous" ahead of his competitive return to golf, but insists that he is "ready to go".
The 14-time Major winner, who is currently ranked 898th in the world, has not featured since August 2015 after undergoing surgery twice on his back.
The 40-year-old was due to make his comeback in the PGA Tour's Safeway Open in October, but pulled out of the event due to concerns that his game was "vulnerable".
Woods will now return to action in the Bahamas for this week's Hero World Challenge.
"I'm not dead. I'm ready to go," the American told ESPN. "I'm nervous for every tournament I play in, whether it's after a lay-off, or six in a row, or a major.
"I care. If I care, I'm nervous and it's good to be that way. To have that nervous energy and channel it into aggression, into focus, concentration - that's good stuff.
"If I wasn't nervous, that would mean I didn't care. I don't want to be out there flat."
Woods's last competitive appearance was at the Wyndham Championship in August last year.
Danielle Joynson
