Tiger Woods is not your ordinary athlete. Most would have hung up their sports gear after facing the kind of injuries that Woods has endured. But not him. Woods’ much-anticipated return to professional golf at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas proved that he still has the fire to compete at a high level.

In his first tournament in nearly eight months, Woods showed that he can still hold his own. Finishing 18th out of 20, with an even par score, Woods had some stellar moments, including five birdies and an impressive long putt on the fifth hole. Of course, there were some rough patches too, like a double bogey on the second hole and a few other bogeys along the way.

But overall, there were promising signs for the 47-year-old. Woods demonstrated that his long game is still strong, hitting an average of 305 yards off the tee. And despite his battered body, he proved that he can endure the rigors of four rounds of competitive golf.

After his final round, Woods said, “I think I’ve come a long way…knocking off a lot of rust, which was great.” He expressed his desire to keep playing and competing, and lamented that he didn’t play as cleanly as he had hoped. But he added, “There’s always next time.”

And indeed, there will be a next time for Woods. He is set to play in the PNC Championship, a father-son tournament in Orlando, Florida on December 14. This will be the fourth time in a row that Woods will be playing alongside his son Charlie. It’s his second tournament since his ankle surgery in April, and he has his sights set on more competitions in the near future.

Woods has big plans for 2024. He hopes to play on the PGA Tour once a month, with potential appearances at the Genesis Invitational in February, the Players Championship in March, the Masters in April, and even the Olympics in Paris later in the year. He believes that playing once a month is reasonable, giving him time to recover and tune up his game.

Throughout the Hero World Challenge, Woods expressed his surprise at how well his body was holding up between rounds. After enduring constant pain during the Masters, the ankle surgery was just the latest in a series of injuries that have sidelined him over the years. But Woods refuses to let these setbacks define him.

“He could easily sail off into the sunset…just go and live his life and enjoy the second half of his life,” said Scottie Scheffler, who won the Hero World Challenge. But Woods continues to come back and compete, setting an inspirational example for the rest of the golfing world.

After his victory, Scheffler called it “very special” to see Woods back on the course, wearing his iconic red and black outfit. It’s a sight that may become more common in the coming year as Woods, one of the greatest players in the game, continues to defy the odds and challenge the fading light of his career.