KILKENNY, Ireland (AFP) - A hurting Tiger Woods began the defence of his WGC American Express Championship after passing a late fitness test.
Earlier this week Woods had warned that he might be forced to pull out because of a week old shoulder injury which was making it difficult for him to swing the club.
But a warm-up session before teeing off with Luke Donald and South Korea's KJ Choi convinced Woods, looking for his third straight win in this tournament, he could compete.
Woods, dressed all in black, hit his opening drive straight down the middle of the fairway.
The problem happened about a week ago when he flew back from New York to his home in Florida.
"I got it sleeping kind of awkwardly when I flew home from New York," explained Woods.
The former world number one said he could cope with the pain.
"I've never been one to pull out of tournaments and quit just because I'm physically sore," said Woods.
It was good news for the organisers after the withdrawal of new world number one Vijay Singh and Masters champion Phil Mickelson from the elite field.
Two years ago Woods won the championship when it was first held on the Mount Juliet course, beating Retief Goosen by a single shot. He won it a year later at the Crabapple Course in Georgia, finishing two shots clear of three players, including Singh.