Woods 'impressive' as he prepares for comeback

ORLANDO (Florida) • World No. 6 Justin Thomas is excited to see his friend Tiger Woods tee it up alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship family tournament this weekend.

Thomas' father Mike also thinks the fans are in for a treat as Woods, 45, makes his first appearance on a golf course since last December.

Woods underwent back surgery in January before he was involved in a single-car crash a month later that left him with career-threatening leg injuries.

"It's crazy how good he's hitting it and far he's hitting it for what he's been through," Mike Thomas said of the 15-time Major winner.

But former world No. 1 Woods has downplayed expectations for the exhibition at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, saying he is playing "as a dad" as he continues to consider how he might fashion a return to professional golf proper.

Mike - a former collegiate golfer who teamed with Justin to win the event last year - said he had played a recent round with Woods and found it "impressive where he's at".

"He's got some speed, he's got some length. Hits a lot of really, really flush shots," the elder Thomas said after playing in a pro-am round on Thursday.

"I mean, I was surprised."

Woods has recently offered some tantalising glimpses of his progress, posting videos of himself hitting balls on social media and putting in some practice sessions while hosting his Hero World Challenge charity event in the Bahamas earlier this month.

This weekend's low-key outing will be the next step in that progression, Justin said.

"My excitement level is high just for him being out here, and being somewhere other than his house and getting to see a lot of familiar faces," the 2017 PGA Championship winner said.

Woods and Charlie made their debut in the event - which pairs Major winners with a family member - last year and the younger Woods stole the show with a first-round eagle, some sharp trash-talking and a swing eerily similar to that of his famous father.

Mike expects to see more of the same from the 12-year-old again.

"He's pretty solid," he said.

"He hasn't gotten any taller. He's a little stronger. He hits it very far for his size."

While fans and golf pundits will be scrutinising Woods' game for signs he might be ready to resume his pursuit of more Major glory, Justin said the event was more about fun and family.

The 36-hole tournament, which is not on the PGA Tour, has a field comprising 20 Major champions and a member of their family.

"It's the same thing for all of us," he said. "I'm here to spend time with my dad and Tiger is here to spend time with Charlie. It just so happens we're playing in a televised tournament."

But women's world No. 1 Nelly Korda - who will be playing alongside her father, former Australian Open tennis champion Petr - admitted that along with the idea of "creating memories", the idea of playing right in front of Woods is pretty cool, too.

"I'm not going to lie," the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist said.

"I'm being a little selfish here, but that's pretty cool."

Woods and Charlie will go out in the final group today alongside Justin and his dad.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS