Tiger Woods finishes first round back with three straight birdies in California

Tiger Woods acknowledges the gallery after a birdie putt on the 18th hole (AP)

Tiger Woods marked his return to competitive action with a closing trio of birdies as he carded 69 during the first round of the Genesis Invitational.

The tournament host was five strokes back from co-leaders Max Homa and Keith Mitchell at Riviera Country Club, after not having played an event without the use of a cart since last summer’s Open Championship, when he missed the cut at St Andrews.