Team USA vice-captain Tiger Woods talk at the 13th green during the practice round for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, September 28, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

His agent slammed reports in February that Woods' rehabilitation wasn't going well, and that his condition had deteriorated.

In May, promoting the National tournament he hosts, Woods insisted he was making progress - but plunked three shots in the water trying to reach the green of Congressional's par-three 10th.

Woods said then that he'd had to adapt to the reality his body is no longer able to support eight or 10 hours of practice a day, or daily runs of five or six miles.

Still, he insisted in June: "I can play with these guys. I know I still can. I just need to get healthy enough where I can do it on a regular basis."

On Thursday, Woods and the rest of the world will begin to find out if he has achieved that level of fitness.

Although he's been sidelined before by various ankle, knee and leg injuries, not to mention the notorious collapse of his marriage amid revelations of his infidelity - this 14-month hiatus is the longest of Woods' career.

He hasn't won since the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational, the 79th PGA Tour title of his career, leaving him three shy of the record held by Sam Snead.