Tiger Woods feels ‘pretty good’ after playing his first holes of golf since August [Videos]

Tiger Woods is back. Well, not all the way back. But on Monday he played golf for the first time, he said, since the Wyndham Championship back in August.

So at least we can say Woods is on his way back -- and that’s not something we’ve been able to say for a while.

“I’m definitely a little tired but I feel pretty good,” Woods said after playing five holes with Mark O’Meara at the opening of at Bluejack National Golf Club in Montgomery, Texas. “I haven’t been out here playing like this. I hadn’t played any holes until today. I know people have said I’ve played holes back at Medalist [Golf Club near Woods’ home in Florida], but I haven’t. This is actually the first time I’ve played holes since Wyndham. It’s been a while.”

Woods, who designed the course at Bluejack, seemed pleased with how the outing went.

“I’m just progressing,” he said. “You saw how I was going at it today, nice and smooth. That’s harder than I have been going at it the last month. Just gradually progressing. We’re just trying to progress and I’m doing that.”

Woods has undergone three surgical procedures on the same spot in his back during the last two years. Back in December, the former world No. 1 golfer said all he could do for exercise is walk and indicated he had no idea when he’d be back on the PGA Tour.

He still doesn’t know when that will happen, but the outlook doesn’t appear nearly as grim anymore.

“It’s been a long road. To actually be able to play soccer with my kids again, to do something like this, to be able to live life ... that’s what’s been nice,” Woods said. “Five months ago I couldn’t. To be three months out of surgery and feel like that, it was tough. I still have a long ways to go. [But] I’m on the back side. I’m getting better, but I’m also getting closer to feeling better every day.”

He added: “I haven’t set any date to when I’m playing again, which is frustrating to say. But to be honest with you, that’s what I’ve had to do. I’ve had to go with that mind-set. Would I have said that five months ago? No way. I couldn’t imagine then feeling like I do right now. Keep improving. Keep getting better. Keep making progress. And I’m doing that.”