Tiger Woods gears up for US PGA Championship with another practice round - in pictures

The 15-time major winner drew a big crowd at Southern Hills as he prepares for the tournament

Tiger Woods plays a shot from a bunker during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 16, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Getty

Tiger Woods makes his way to the 13th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. AP

Tiger Woods wipes his face on the 11th green during a practice round for the PGA Championship. AP

Tiger Woods hits a chip shot on the 11th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship. AP

Tiger Woods tees off on the 12th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship. AP

Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship. Reuters

Tiger Woods walks from the 18th green following a practice round ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship. AFP

Tiger Woods chips on to the 11th green during a practice round for the PGA Championship. Reuters

Tiger Woods watches his second fairway shot on the 10th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship. Reuters

Tiger Woods putts as fans look on during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. Getty

Fans watch Tiger Woods putt on the 11th green during a practice round ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship. Getty

Fans watch Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 12th tee during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. Getty

Tiger Woods uses a rangefinder during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. Getty

Tiger Woods watches a tee shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. Getty

Tiger Woods plays a tee shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. AFP

Tiger Woods plays an approach shot on the 13th hole during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. AFP

Tiger Woods on the 14th green during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. Getty

Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 16th tee during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship. AFP

Tiger Woods had fans excited with anticipation on Monday after the 15-time major winner played a back-nine practice round at Southern Hills ahead of this week's US PGA Championship.

Woods, 46, made a remarkable return to professional golf in April when he took part in The Masters at Augusta National, 14 months after a serious car crash which caused major leg injuries. The American went on to make the cut before announcing he was targeting the Open Championship at St Andrews this summer, although he was noncommittal about any earlier plans.

Woods' presence in Tulsa, Oklahoma this week is therefore both unexpected and welcomed as fans lined the ropes to watch the former world No 1 take part in a practice round on Monday.

"I'm excited," Woods said on Sunday after playing the front nine. "I'm not going to play that much going forward, so anytime I do play, it's going to be fun."

Having made the cut at the Masters, Woods battled through pain simply to walk 72 holes and faded to his worst-ever Augusta rounds of 78, the 15-time major winner calling the effort to finish four rounds among his greatest feats. However, more than a month on, Woods said he is feeling much fitter and stronger.

"I've gotten a lot stronger since the Masters," he said. "We went back to work on [the] Tuesday [following Augusta National]. Monday was awful. I did nothing and Tuesday was leg day. So, we went right back after it.

"We started ramping up a week or so ago, played a little bit more golf, and it was good. Everything is better."

Woods, now ranked 818th, won the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills, although the course underwent an $11 million revamp in 2018. If his body has the strength and stamina to walk 72 holes, he could still be a major threat.

Woods is two shy of the major record set by Jack Nicklaus, while victory at Southern Hills would be his 73rd PGA Tour triumph, which would break the all-time record he now shares with Sam Snead.