While the roar of the fighter jets momentarily drowned out any conversation on the Torrey Pines course, the loudest noise was around an hour earlier when Woods stepped on the first tee.

His scoring effort left the now 41-year old trailing seven shots behind fellow American Tony Finau who carded a seven-under par 65 to lead the $US 6.9m event by a stroke.

Woods walked onto the tee just after 10.30am local time and with every available vantage spot taken, and after a year’s absence when he withdrew from the same event clearly not fully fit.

Woods was the last to tee-up after playing partners Patrick Reed and Charley Hoffman hit off and it was very much the Tiger Woods of old when he failed to find the fairway in landing his tee shot in deep rough well left of the South Course fairway.

He has done this so much the same over an illustrious career including on day one of the 2007 Open at Carnoustie in going out-of-bounds left off the first tee and finding the Barrie Burn while he lost a ball, and also left, with his first tee shot at the 2003 Open at Royal St. George’s.

There was also Woods’ forgettable drive 50-yards left and into a water hazard off the first tee on day one of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K. Club.

Woods eventually bogeyed the first and then dropped to two-over when he found a fairway bunker off the tee at the fifth hole but soon drew huge applause and some cries of ‘Heeeee’s Back’ in two-putting the par-5 sixth hole for a first birdie.

His group were walking down the fourth when they were buzzed by a hang-glider ‘riding’ the currents along with Pacific Ocean shoreline.

Woods was undeterred so much so he joined four members of the media on the cliff edge at the back of the fourth hole admiring young dolphins at play.

The 14-time Major winner produced then longest drive of his round, an effort of 319-yards, at the seventh hole and seconds before two 'friendly' fighter jets emerged over the course.

Woods hit another booming drive down the ninth and making it five of seven fairways in regulation over his outward half, and in an event he’s won seven times in the past.

Woods also recorded 14 putts over his outward half but needed just one putt to get back to level par in holing a 2-footer at the par-4 10th and start of his inward nine. He then dropped a shot at the 13th before his ‘shot of the day’ in going within inches of holing his 188-yard 6-iron shot at the par-3 16th for what was the easiest of birdies.

He finished with two pars in a round of a level par 72 and four shots fewer than on day one of the event a year ago.

Statistics-wise, Woods overall hit eight of 14 fairways and had 31 putts.

“I'm fine with a 72, I just didn't hit my irons very well today, didn't hit anything else,” he said.

“I didn't give myself a lot of looks out there and consequently I didn't make a lot of birdies. I didn't play the par 5s as well either, I believe I played them only even par.

“So tomorrow hopefully I can drive it a little bit better, hit my irons obviously a lot closer and we're going to the better side for greens and hopefully I can make a few.

“I was a bit nervous starting out as I'm always nervous and I care about what I do so it was fun to feel that competitive rush again and try -- have a scorecard in my hand and try and post a number.

“The thing I also need to do is start finding the first fairway here at Torrey as I was right here a year ago and left today (smiling).”

There was then the sight on the practice putting green of virtually every player, and many of them who had not seen Woods in the flesh, just stopping what they were doing and looking on in awe as Woods, and flanked by local San Diego Police officers, made his way into the clubhouse.

“I thought the reception I received today was incredible,” he said.

“They were into it, they were supportive. It was nice to come back to southern California again, I miss it out here, I miss playing this golf course. Always feels good to come out here and play Torrey Pines.”

One thing was certain, that buzz that has been missing for so long from world golf was back and the thousands out following Woods and his fellow pros could not be more pleased.

Tiger Woods return to the PGA Tour after fusion surgery on his back was marked by two birdies and just as many bogeys.

The 14-time Major winner managed to hit eight of 14 Torrey Pines fairways and recorded 31 putts and none better than the virtual tap-in on the par-3 16th hole where Woods nearly holed-out for an ace.

Here is details of every shot Woods played on day one of the Farmers Insurance Open.

HOLE 1 (par 4): Driver 292 yards into left rough. Approach finds greenside bunker. Blasts out of plugged lie to 11 feet, 10 inches. Two-putt for bogey. Score: 1 over par bogey

HOLE 2 (par 4): 5-wood 263 yards finds fairway. Approach misses green long. Chip from rough to 4 feet. Makes par putt.

HOLE 3 (par 3): 7-iron finds green, 27 feet, 5 inches from pin. Birdie putt slides just by on right. Tap-in for par.

HOLE 4 (par 4): Driver 310 yards hugs left side of fairway. 8-iron from 183 yards finds green, 45-1/2 feet from pin. Runs birdie attempt 4 feet past, makes comebacker for par.

HOLE 5 (par 4): Driver 300 yards to fairway bunker. Approach shot to front greenside bunker. Blasts to 12 feet but misses par putt. Second bogey of the round. Score: 2 over

HOLE 6 (par 5): Driver 308 yards finds fairway. 4-iron from 252 yards finds green. Eagle putt from 52 feet just short. Tap-in for first birdie of the day. Score: 1 over

HOLE 7 (par 4): Driver 319 yards to fairway. 9-iron from 148 yards finds greenside bunker. Blasts out to 3 feet to set up easy par putt.

HOLE 8 (par 3): First show of frustration after a pulled 8-iron finds thick rough left of green. Terrific chip leaves him with tap-in par.

HOLE 9 (par 5): Driver 318 yards to fairway. Fairway metal approach finds cluster of greenside bunkers. Blasts to 21 feet. Two-putt par.

HOLE 10 (par 4): Tee shot 277 yards finishes in first cut just off right fairway. Terrific pitching wedge inside 2 feet for easy birdie. Score: Even par

HOLE 11 (par 3): Tee shot lands on green, 23 feet right of pin. Two-putt par.

HOLE 12 (par 4): Driver 316 yards down left fairway. Approach from 188 yards finds right side of green. Two-putt from 47 feet, 10 inches for par on most difficult hole on course.

HOLE 13 (par 5): Driver 301 yards scatters gallery, finds right rough between fairway bunker and cart path. Forced to lay up. Third shot from 97 yards finds bunker on right side. Terrific bunker shot but misses tricky 3-footer for par. Disappointing bogey. Score: 1 over

HOLE 14 (par 4): 3-wood 300 yards finds fairway. 9-iron from 140 yards lands back of green, 25 feet from pin. Two-putt par.

HOLE 15 (par 4): Driver 320 yards down left fairway. Approach shot from 151 yards finds green, 19 feet from pin. Two-putt par.

HOLE 16 (par 3): 6-iron on 188-yard tee shot threatens to go in for ace. Tap-in birdie from inside 1 foot. Score: Back to even par

HOLE 17 (par 4): 3-wood 271 yards finds right rough. 7-iron from 181 yards just clears bunker and dribbles onto green. Two-putt par from 38 feet.

HOLE 18 (par 5): Driver 292 yards find bunker on left side. Second shot finishes 152 yards from pin. 9-iron leaves him 41 feet below pin. Two-putt par to shoot even-par 72.