Tiger Woods faces his opening test at Torrey Pines

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Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the fourth hole hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Photo: Associated Press/Gregory Bull

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tiger Woods is starting his PGA Tour season at Torrey Pines, just like the old days.

Only these are far different circumstances.

Instead of high expectations for Woods, Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open was more about curiosity. He is returning after fusion surgery on his lower back last April, his fourth back operation in three years. When he tried to return after a 16-month break last year at Torrey Pines, he missed the 36-hole cut.

This will be only his second PGA Tour event since August 2015.

Woods has won this PGA Tour seven times. He also won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008, along with a Junior World Championship as a teenager. The difference from last year is Woods no longer has pain in his back.

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