Wednesday 14 March 2018 10:46, UK
Tiger Woods believes he is continuing to show signs of progress in his game, but has cooled any expectations for him to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The former world No 1 makes his fourth start in five weeks on the PGA Tour at Bay Hill and just his fifth since undergoing spinal fusion surgery last year, at an event he has won a record eight times.
Woods came into the year outside of the world's top 600 but is now up to world No 149 after finishing tied-second at the Valspar Championship, one shot behind winner Paul Casey.
The 14-time major champion is without a victory worldwide since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, although is pleased the progress he has made during his latest return from injury.
"Each and every week I've learned from what I've done and more importantly I'm learning my body," Woods told the media on Tuesday. "I'm learning how I can swing it and not swing it.
"My recovery, these are all things that are new. So I'm still learning, I'm getting a lot better at it, which is nice. I think that you're starting to see the fruits of that now, of the little tweaks I've made, and I'm excited about it.
"It [getting back in contention] has been quick but still I have to say just to enjoy all of this because, at one point, that wasn't even a thought."
Woods tees off alongside Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama for the first two rounds at Bay Hill, where the 42-year-old won the last time he played in the event in 2013.
"Just because I won here eight times, it doesn't mean I'm going to win this week automatically," Woods added. "I have still got to do the work.
"I have still got to go through the process of getting myself in position, but I understand this golf course, I've played it under so many different varying conditions.
"I've got to do some serious homework though and really get to know and get the feel of how this golf course is playing this particular year, considering I haven't played here in five years!"
Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage begins On the Range on Wednesday from 8pm.
