But it was not good news early for his legion of fans, as Woods looked in pain throughout the opening holes of the round. He used his driver to lean on when bending down to tee up his ball, while his putter was used as a makeshift walking stick to climb small rises onto a tee. And he was hitting the ball all over the Old Course.

Woods’ limp became quite pronounced through six holes and it appeared certain he would only play a few more holes alongside good friend Justin Thomas before requesting a ride back into town.

Woods, however, pushed on, which speaks volumes for his determination to do more than just play his special event.

There's no doubting Tiger's drive and enthusiasm for the contest this week at St. Andrews. PHOTO: Getty Images.

He’s here to contend. That is why after arriving in St. Andrews on Saturday evening, Woods and Thomas ventured out on to the Old Course with a few short irons and putters to chip around some greens and get a feel for the course. They were like a couple of golf-obsessed teens walking holes in the fading light, followed by a small crowd of onlookers. They eventually pulled stumps on practice just before 11pm.

Aided by the unusually hot Scottish weather on Sunday, the battered Woods seem to find some freedom of movement on the back nine as the mercury rose to the high 20s. He will be hoping the clear blue skies and high temps – more reminiscent of a tropical getaway than the Kingdom of Fife – stick around for another week.

He was pain-free enough on the back nine to spend plenty of time playing shots from different positions as well as hitting a host of chips and putts from different spots on various greens.

By the time the American pair reached the 17th tee, Tiger looked more like the man who has twice captured the Open at St. Andrews. He was smiling, walking confidently and striping his shots.

He even put on a clinic for Thomas, who smashed a wild slicing drive off the 17th tee into the beer garden of the famous Jigger Inn that overlooks the hole. Woods broke the bad news to Thomas and proceeded to stripe his drive over the corner of the Old Course Hotel into the middle of the fairway, before proclaiming “that’s the line.”

Woods walks with caddie, Joe LaCava, early in his round. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Tiger’s drive at the par-4 18th was even more impressive. The 356-yard closer was no match for Woods’ power from the tee as his ball resembled a scolded rabbit bounding down the fairway, through the famous Valley of Sin and up onto the green, about 20 feet from the flag. It was an incredible shot witnessed by only a few thousand people, who had gathered around the green where the Champion Golfer of the Year will be given the Claret Jug in seven days’ time. Woods, for the record, narrowly missed the eagle attempt, leaving the putt short on a good line.

When Woods announced his return to competitive golf after his horror car accident, this Open Championship was foremost in his mind and scheduling. The course isn’t long, it’s playing hard and fast (and is likely to get even more fiery) and it’s a relatively flat walk.

Woods will play in the four-hole Champion’s Challenge on Monday afternoon but his practice schedule between then and Thursday’s opening round remains