Former world  number  one  Tiger Woods is waking up “pain free” for the first time in three years ahead of his return to golf at next week’s Hero World Challenge.

That’s the word from   his fellow former world number one Jason Day.

Woods, who has not played competitive golf for 10 months as he recovers from a fourth operation on his back in three years, will be making his comeback next week at his own tournament in Albany, Bahamas.

The winner of five tournaments in 2013, 41-year-old woods has played just 19 events since.

The 14-times major champion made a previous comeback at the hero world challenge last year after nearly 16 months on the sidelines, finishing 15th in a final field of 17.

Day  from  Australia   now world number 12 after a lean spell of his own with no wins this year, said the Hero World Challenge was the perfect tournament for woods to make his return.