HOYLAKE, England - Tiger Woods's back operation in March robbed the former world number one of a quarter of the golf season but at least it has given him a fresh outlook on his career.

The 14-time major champion will be making his second competitive appearance in four months at this week's British Open and Woods is just happy to be back at the venue of his memorable 2006 victory at Royal Liverpool.

"With this particular injury with my back I didn't want to do anything," Woods told reporters yesterday. "I couldn't get out of bed and I couldn't move around the house.

"That made me appreciate just how fortunate I was to be able to play at that high level for the better part of 17 years. It made me appreciate that a lot more."

Woods famously won the 2008 US Open, the most recent of his major triumphs, virtually on one leg due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) problems that eventually led to surgery.

"When I had no ACL and my leg was pretty trashed I could actually still go out there and play," explained the 38-year-old American.

"I couldn't do that with this back injury.

"I couldn't actually enjoy my life ... the daily things of just moving around. It wasn't a whole lot of fun."

Woods missed the cut on his comeback at the Quicken Loans National event in Maryland last month but he is delighted just to be pain-free these days.

Former US Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange told Reuters earlier this month that Woods had to limit his ambitions at Hoylake because of his limited playing time since surgery.

Golf's great drawcard, however, said he had proved in the past how he can triumph in the face of adversity.

"I've been in circumstances like this before," Woods added.

"In 2008 I had surgery after the US Masters at Augusta.

"The Sunday before the US Open I didn't break 50 for nine holes and still I was able to win it in a play-off [with Rocco Mediate] with an ACL and a broken leg. I've proven I can do it."