By Michael Buteau
April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Tiger Woods posed for photos and signed autographs during and after his pro-am round today, an indication that his world might be returning to normal, at least on the course.
Woods is at the Wells Fargo Championship, his first regular U.S. PGA Tour event since a layoff of about five months that included an admission of marital infidelity and behavior that led him to rehabilitation as well as the loss of major sponsors.
Playing golf is actually becoming more enjoyable, said Woods, who returned to competition this month with a fourth- place tie at the Masters Tournament.
“It’s been more fun, no doubt,” Woods said. “I’ve had a lot of struggles internally for awhile now, and that’s one of the reasons why it wasn’t that much fun.”
Off the course, Woods said he still finds it difficult to lead a normal life. He was criticized for recently attending a concert by rock band Nickelback in Orlando, Florida.
“A couple band members are friends of mine, and that’s why I went,” Woods said. “I just had a great time. And unfortunately I got criticized for seeing my friends.”
At his home in Windermere, Florida, things aren’t getting easier for Woods.
“There’s paparazzi everywhere,” he said. “Helicopters here and there, people driving by, paparazzi camping out in front of the gates. That hasn’t changed.”
Woods was joined on the course today in Charlotte, North Carolina, by two catering company executives in his first pro-am event since returning to competitive golf.
Catering Partners
Kurt Kimball and Jim Rathburn, who are Charlotte-based executives with Compass Group PLC, the world’s biggest catering company, were drawn to play with the top-ranked Woods for a friendly round at the Quail Hollow Club.
Woods said he shot “under par,” holed a few birdie putts and struggled to hit straight drives during the informal 18-hole round.
“It was scratchy,” he said of his lone practice session before tomorrow’s opening round. “I hit some bad tee shots, some bad iron shots, bad chips, bad putts, but I still shot under par somehow.”
Woods, the tournament’s 2007 winner, is scheduled to begin his first round at 7:40 a.m. New York time alongside Stewart Cink and Angel Cabrera.
In addition to Woods’s decision to sign more autographs and smile for more pictures, his practice round had a different feel than his previous appearances in Charlotte.
Jordan, Manning
In 2007, Michael Jordan, the former Chicago Bulls All-Star who is now owner of the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Bobcats, requested to play with Woods. Last year’s arranged pairing was with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
Jordan instead spent today with 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples and Quail Hollow Club President Johnny Harris.
The pro-am also featured marquee athletes including Dan Marino, a former quarterback for the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins, and four-time Nascar Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.
Participation is limited to companies that purchase hospitality packages for the tournament.
Tournament Director Kym Hougham said he had no discussions with Woods’s agent, Mark Steinberg, regarding playing partners for the 14-time major winner.
Pro-Am Flashback
At the Barclays tournament in August, critical comments about the course made by Woods during the pro-am were repeated by Motorola Inc. Co-Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Jha, leading to their publication in the Record newspaper of Bergen County, New Jersey. Woods then didn’t speak with print media until after the third round.
When he spoke today, Woods was more focused on golf and less on his off-course issues.
“This feels a heck of a lot more normal than the Masters did,” he said. “I just need to go out there and do a little bit of a practice session, gym work this afternoon, as well, to get ready for tomorrow and back into normal mode again.”