( CNN ) -- In short , it was n't the return Tiger Woods had hoped for . Making his first competitive outing since missing the cut at the U.S.PGA Championship in August , Woods posted a five-over par 77 in the first round at the Hero World Challenge at Florida 's Isleworth Golf and Country Club . The 14-time major champion , who has struggled with a back injury all year , got off to the worst possible start with three bogeys and a double bogey in the opening nine holes . A birdie -- his only one of the day -- came at the par four 12th hole , but was immediately canceled out at the next hole with a bogey six where , incredibly , he took three chips to get his ball onto the green . `` Today , it was weird , I did n't feel like I hit it that bad , '' Woods told reporters . `` My short game was awful , and I did n't make anything . It certainly is surprising that I could hit chips that poorly . Just flubbed them , '' he added . `` I felt comfortable on a lot of the chip shots this week as I was playing practice rounds off the tighter spots . But when it got a little grainier , just was n't as good as I needed it to be . '' Woods ' round left him lying in last place in the 18-man tournament , four shots off compatriots Patrick Reed and Billy Horschel who are tied for 16th and a distant 11 shots off first-round leader Jordan Spieth . The attention surrounding Woods ' return has been heightened after he announced at the end of last month that he had hired Chris Como as his new swing `` consultant . '' Como replaces coach Sean Foley , who parted ways with Woods in August after a four-year partnership that yielded eight victories but crucially no major titles . With Como it could be a case of back to the future . Woods said he was `` excited '' by what the 36-year-old , whose has previously coached South African Trevor Immelman , is bringing to his game . `` It is new , but it is old , '' Woods said earlier this week . `` We looked at a lot of video from when I was a junior -- even when I came out there and had some really nice years where I hit the ball really well . We went back to some of those old videos and really looked at it . `` And it was quite interesting to see where my swing was then and how much force I could generate with a very skinny frame . How did I do that ? How do I generate that much power ? That 's kind of what we are getting back into . Woods hinted that the changes may already be taking effect . `` I do n't feel like I 'm hitting it very hard . But it 's coming off the face faster , '' he said . According to Golf Digest , Como has been studying for a master 's degree in biomechanics at Texas Woman 's University , working under Dr. Young-Hoo Kwon . Adopting a less stressful way of striking the ball could finally allow the 38-year-old to build up a competitive head of steam -- his tour appearances have been increasingly sporadic in recent seasons . Despite undergoing back surgery to rectify a pinched nerve in April , Woods has struggled to regain full fitness and has played just seven tournaments in all this year . An acceptance of his physical restrictions that age brings about may also help Woods , once the longest hitter on tour . `` I ca n't blow it out there with some of the longer guys any more . Back when I was younger a long ball was 290 [ yards ] in the air . That was a big ball . Now it 's 320 , 325 . That 's the new standard out here , '' he told reporters earlier this week . But he refuses to right off his chances of competing consistently at the highest level in the years ahead . `` You can win at a very late age because you do n't have to physically dominate anybody , you just have to beat the golf course , '' he said earlier this week . `` And it is one of the reasons why you saw Sam Snead win at age 54 , looked like Tom [ Watson ] was going to win the British Open at 59 and Greg [ Norman ] was part of the lead in the British Open when he was 54 . `` I 'm not quite 40 yet so I 've still got some time . '' Read more : Tiger 'an inspiration ' says Lindsey Vonn . Read more : Woods furious at journalist 's parody .
Tiger Woods shot a disappointing five - over 77 after four - month injury layoff . Woods down in last place 11 shots off lead held by Jordan Spieth . Former world No . 1 recently announced new swing to Mike Tyson . Woods ' new swing is ` ` new , but old '' and perhaps less physically taxing on body .