I followed Tiger Woods for 18 holes today. Here’s 8 things I noticed.

The last time Tiger Woods was seen in Scotland, he was getting into a car to be whisked to the airport after missing the cut in The 150th Open at St Andrews.

That was almost two years ago – a relative eternity in the complex world of the 15-time major champion.

A little after 7am this morning, Woods’ private jet landed back in the home of golf following an overnight flight across the Atlantic and, just over six hours later, he was on the first tee at Royal Troon, ready to start preparations for his 23rd Open Championship.

Three times a winner of the Claret Jug, Woods hasn’t featured at the weekend of the oldest and most prestigious major in the game since finishing second to Francesco Molinari at Carnoustie in 2018.

Such a result may be too much to hope for on this occasion – or indeed any other – but watching him play remains utterly compelling.

I followed him for the whole of his round today and there were several things that stood out…

1. He played all 18

‘Shock horror’, you gasp. ‘Professional golfer plays round of golf.’ Well, yes. But also, no. It was widely assumed that Woods would only play nine holes, particularly considering his early morning arrival. Instead, he went the distance. That would suggest he’ll play nine tomorrow, the other nine on Tuesday and take Wednesday off to fully rest and recover in time for the championship getting under way on Thursday.

2. He played alone

It’s not unprecedented for Woods to play alone, but it is unusual. The three-time Open champ has no shortage of playing partners to call on: Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler to name but three, whilst Jason Day was playing directly ahead of him alongside Tony Finau and Lucas Glover.

So, why play solo? One wonders if it was as much to gel with new caddie Lance Bennett as anything else. Since teaming up at the start of the year, the pair have only managed nine competitive rounds, a combination of Woods’ limited schedule and his struggles to make cuts. Still, he and Bennett did seem relaxed in each other’s company today, laughing and joking throughout.

On the tenth tee, Woods jokingly referred to his looper as a “motherf**ker”, which made both men double over laughing, whilst walking down 16, they discussed the light, bright summer nights in Scotland, with Woods revealing that it’s even more extreme in Sweden. There, he said, you could go into a club in Stockholm in broad daylight and leave it in broad daylight. They appear to be a good fit for each other. More rounds in each other’s company will surely solidify a promising partnership.

3. No Charlie

Ahead of last month’s US Open, Woods explained the role his teenage son Charlie has assumed within his inner circle, insisting that “he’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone.” Based on that, some in the crowd today were surprised that Tiger’s youngest was nowhere to be seen. There is, though, a straightforward explanation.

Woods Jnr is back home prepping for his maiden appearance in the US Junior Amateur, which starts at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan on July 22 – the morning after The 152nd Open is scheduled to finish.

4. The security detail

Three security guards followed Woods throughout his round. For the most part, one took the left-hand side of the fairway, another the right, with a third closely shadowing the 15-time major champion. They were clad in the same beige apparel as the on-course volunteer marshals but, beyond that, made little attempt to fit in, talking into their sleeves and collars almost constantly.

On the 11th hole, the bodyguard closest to the adjacent railway line stalked the boundary wall, presumably maintaining a close eye for any member of the public attempting to enter the golf course from that unlikely route.

Whether Woods’ security was indeed heightened, or it just seemed that way – particularly in light of the attempt on Donald Trump’s life less than 24 hours earlier – the no-nonsense vigilance of the team protecting the former world No.1 was very noticeable.

On the seventh tee, one of the trio told off marshalls for allowing people who shouldn’t have been there inside the ropes and, as Woods stalked the 16th green, the same man loudly reprimanded a photographer who got a little too close, telling him that “with that lens, you you can see him from way over there.”

5. Stamp duty

Woods thrilled the crowds in the huge grandstand at the iconic ‘Postage Stamp’ eighth hole by almost holing-out, his ball finishing only three feet from the flag. One Scottish voice in the crowd could be heard urging him to “no’ miss that putt now” as he walked to the green. He didn’t, rolling home an easy two. What he’d give for a few more of those later in the week.

6. Lean machine

When I saw Woods at The Masters in April, I was struck by his physique – and not in a good way. He looked swollen, sweaty, puffy and out of breath. Beefy, burly, bulky but, ultimately, wan. Three months later, he looks a different man. Lean, supple, toned. He has a neck again for the first time in a long time, his jawline has reappeared, and he looks as spry and as athletic as he has since he won The Masters in 2019.

7. As for his game…

Here’s arguably the biggest surprise of the lot: Woods played well. Very well. It’s hard to know what he shot, considering he played two – sometimes three – balls on several holes but, in addition to the birdie he made on two, he made another excellent four on the par-5 sixth.

After barely covering the carry from the tee to the fairway on the longest hole on the Open rota – making the short grass by only 30 yards or so – Woods laid up in line with the bunker just short of the green before flicking a wedge to six feet and draining the putt.

Whilst he struggled off the tee at times, missing the fairway a handful of times on the back nine, his iron play was exceptional. Dialled-in and then some. Apart from a tugged tee shot on the par-3 14th, I can’t recall him missing a green. The 14th, in fact, was the only hole he played poorly. After deciding to get in some bunker practice, he left two balls in the front left trap, with a third catching the lip on its way out and ricocheting right to the front of the green.

On each green, after holing out, he practised lag-putting to several different spots marked out with tee pegs by Bennett. Early in the round, he seemed to be struggling to adjust to the pace but soon found his rhythm and even drew a huge round of applause from the gallery at the 16th when he connected with one of the pegs with a difficult, breaking putt from around 30 feet.

All things considered, his game looked to be in good shape. But it’s Sunday. How it looks on Thursday and Friday matters a whole lot more.

8. As for the elephant in the room…

As many have noted, Woods’ biggest issue isn’t hitting shots but walking between them. That was evident again today. Not much, but enough to be noticeable.

Whilst he moved freely in the early holes, he did seem to be limping ever so slightly by the end – a consequence of his new reality. It was interesting to watch him walk on his toes on inclines, refusing (or unable) to plant his heel.

As one of the flatter courses on the rota, Royal Troon should be a good fit for Woods. However, today was as benign as it’s likely to play. To what extent the cooler and wetter conditions forecast for later in the week (Thursday looks especially grim at this moment) impact him physically, we will need to wait and see. But the early signs are encouraging.

And that’s about all Woods and his legion of supporters can hope for.