Tiger Woods endured a difficult return as he shot a four-over 75 in the first of the PGA Tour’s play-off events at Liberty National in New Jersey.

Woods was playing his first round since missing the cut in the open last month.

He recorded five bogeys and one double bogey to lie 13 strokes behind early leader Troy Merritt, who fired a 62.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was three shots off the lead after a six-under 65 with England’s Danny Willett a further shot back.

Scotland’s Russell Knox also finished on five-under alongside 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed.

Woods, 43, who had spinal fusion surgery in April 2017, was only able to practise chipping and putting in Wednesday’s pro-am.

After Thursday’s round he said his back was “a little bit stiff, but that’s just the way it’s going to be”.

Thankfully from Woods’ point of view, there were far fewer spectators on hand to witness his struggles than normal. Following bad weather the day before, spectators were not allowed in until 10.00 local time, at which point he had almost completed his first nine holes.

The 43-year-old has played a very limited schedule since he won the masters, with this being only his fifth start since that Sunday in April.

But he did not look comfortable and the poor round followed on from his struggles at Portrush in the The Open, where he had rounds of 78 and 70 to miss the halfway cut by five strokes.

“I didn’t hit any good shots and didn’t make any putts,” Woods added.