Tiger Woods returns to competition Thursday in THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He has been idle since the Masters last month, when he tied for fourth despite playing with a left knee sprain and mild sprain of his left Achilles tendon in the final round.

Following doctor’s orders, Woods has rested his left leg, taken anti-inflammatories, used ice and had soft tissue massage. He said is feeling much improved. However, his nine-hole round Tuesday on the back nine of the Stadium Course was his first since the final round of the Masters.