AKRON, Ohio — To deem Tiger Woods as “back” after one competitive round of golf following his three-month layoff would be premature.
However, watching Woods carve out his impressive 2-under-par 68 in yesterday’s opening round of the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club has to make everyone take notice.
At the front of the line taking notice was Woods, who broke from the stoic look he had etched on his face for much of the round and had a difficult time containing his excitement afterward.
“It feels great,” Woods said. “As anybody who’s been off and been injured, the first time back [you’re] a little nervous to see what happens. I was hitting proper shots out there. I hadn’t hit the ball like this [in a long time]. This was fun.
“That first tee shot I was pretty nervous. It felt awesome.”
As the round progressed, Woods turned his nerves into confidence — particularly with his putter. Woods seemed to be feeling his way early, opening with nine straight pars before birdies on 10, 11 and 16 and a bogey on 14.
The fact Woods is merely tied for 18th and six shots behind leader Adam Scott (who has Steve Williams, the caddie Woods fired last month, on his bag) hardly matters to Woods at the moment.
First, it’s only one round of golf and there are three to play.
Second and more important, for the first time since the Masters in April, Woods looked far removed from the calamity of the sex scandal and injuries that have ruled his life for the last 20 months.
Statistically, Woods didn’t wow anyone, hitting only 5-of-14 fairways and 12-of-18 greens. But the fairways he missed weren’t by a lot and he needed only 27 putts.
He made two huge par-save putts on the front nine — a 17-footer on No. 3 and a 20-footer on No. 9 that spurred consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. He made a 31-foot birdie putt on No. 16.
The best shot Woods hit all day came on that par-5 16th after he hit his drive into the right rough along the tree line. Woods cut a marvelous fairway wood 269 yards around the trees and down the hill to set up his last birdie of the round.
“I flushed it,” Woods said. “I didn’t think I could get it that far down there.”
Woods had an awkward stance and lashed at the swing, spinning off his left leg in the follow through, and he showed no signs of tweaking the knee and Achilles injuries that have kept him away from competition the last three months.
Woods’ performance was far removed from his last competitive round — the 42 he shot on the front nine at The Players Championship on May 12 before withdrawing.
It, too, stood in stark contrast to his performance here a year ago, when he posted the worst 72-hole score of his career, shooting 18-over par and finishing 30 shots behind winner Hunter Mahan in second-to-last place in the 78-player field.
Woods, who’s won this event seven times in his career, shot 74 in the first round here last year and by week’s end had hit rock bottom. The next week, he started working with his swing coach, Sean Foley.
“I felt ‘back’ on that first tee,” Woods said. “I hadn’t competed. I hadn’t really gone at it until [yesterday]. I’ve done all the work, I’ve done all the training, I’ve done all the lifting, I’ve done all the rehab. It’s time to go.”
Another three rounds progressing off of yesterday’s showing and we’ll truly be able to pronounce Woods as “back.”
mcannizzaro@nypost.com