SAN DIEGO — With the Pacific Ocean behind him, Tiger Woods drew back his driver and sent it soaring across the blue sky Wednesday at Torrey Pines.

Watching from 50 yards away was Jay Monahan, the new commissioner of the PGA Tour.

“That’s a nice sight, isn’t it? Monahan said.

He wasn’t referring to the sun shining down on the rugged coastline. His eyes were fixed on Woods, in perfect balance on the 17th tee of the North Course.

This will be the ninth time that Woods returns to the PGA Tour following a lengthy layoff — more times than all but three players at Torrey Pines have PGA Tour victories — and this one brings as much curiosity as excitement at the Farmers Insurance Open.

“We all know I haven’t played a full schedule in a very long time, so this is an unknown,” Woods said. “I’ve been away from it for so long. I’ve played one tournament in that 15-month span.”