A triumphant return for Tiger at Match Play

MARANA, Ariz. -- Eight months later, Tiger Woods looked as though he had never been away.

Woods made a triumphant return to golf Wednesday in the Accenture Match Play Championship with a spectacular start that showed golf what it had been missing in the 253 days since he limped his way to an epic U.S. Open title.

Just past high noon in the desert, Woods fired an 8-iron into 5 feet for birdie. Then came a gentle fist pump when his approach to the par-5 second settled 4 feet from the cup for eagle.

He closed out Brendan Jones of Australia with a 3-foot par on the 16th hole for a 3-and-2 victory.