Tiger Woods is hoping to be to the four in 2017 – with a rigorous quartet of tournaments getting him back in the swing.

Woods marked his return to competitive action for the first time in 15 months at his own Hero World Challenge in December.

But the former world No 1 will really up the ante at the end of this month with a robust run of four testing tournaments in a hectic five week spell.

Woods, 41, will tee-up in the Farmers Insurance Open, the Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Open and the Honda Classic as his comeback from back surgery gathers pace.

Woods finished 15th out of 17 players in the Hero World Challenge but he did hit a sparkling 65 in round two and racked up the most birdies of any player in the field.

The 14-time Major winner said: “I thought what I did at the Hero World Challenge was a positive step. I just need to keep building off that and eliminate the simple mistakes I made. Being away from the game that long, I made some really dumb errors I don't normally make, and it cost me.

“My good stuff was really good, which is a great sign. I am working hard to sharpen my game for 2017, and my goal is simple: to win.”

Woods will begin the new year at Torrey Pines, a course where he has won eight times throughout his career including the last of his 14 Majors in 2008 US Open. He will then head for another happy hunting ground in Dubai to contest the Desert Classic event which he has won twice before. In 28 rounds over the Majlis course in the Middle East, Woods is 92-under-par.

Many had predicted that Woods would adopt a gentle easing in to the new year but this aggressive statement of intent suggests that he is both physically and mentally confident that his body can deal with the demands of the forthcoming tests.

He added: “I know many people doubted whether I would play competitive golf again, and to be honest, even I wasn't sure. But after a year of working harder than I've ever worked to get back, I knew it was possible.

“My love for the game never left. It's just that the body would not allow me to play. Now my body is allowing me to do it again. There is great reason for optimism.”