Tiger Woods shuts down reporter's question about teenage son Charlie

Tiger Woods refused to confirm or deny whether his teenage son Charlie will caddie for him in next year's majors after the conclusion of the Hero World Challenge. 

Rounds of 75, 70, 71 and 72 gave Woods a level par total of 288 strokes in Albany, the Bahamas. 

NEW: Tiger Woods to part ways with Nike Golf after PNC (?!)

By the time he completed his four rounds he was 18 strokes behind the leader Scottie Scheffler in the 20-man field. 

But the victory for Woods was that he managed to walk 72 holes relatively easily compared to his most recent appearances. 

The 15-time major champion displayed the occasional piece of brilliance alongside some noticeable rust in his first competitive start in seven months. 

He had not played since hobbling out of the 47th Masters in visible anguish which prompted the golfer to go under the knife once again. 

Woods had his right ankle fused which has alleviated the pain he was feeling in his heel. It's the other parts of his body that are now sore, he said. 

"I think the best part of the week is the way I drove it," Woods told a pool of reporters on Sunday. 

"I drove it on pretty much a string all week. Granted, these fairways are big.

"I felt like I had my ball speed up, which was nice, and I was hitting the middle of the face the entire week, which is nice."

He said if there was anything he wanted to tidy up it would be his short game. Woods was also frustrated he played the par-5s poorly. 

Woods also had a different caddie this week. Joe LaCava was hired by Woods in 2011 but he now loops for Patrick Cantlay. 

His long-time friend and confidante Rob McNamara stepped in but in the future Charlie could be on the bag. 

"I think he got an appreciation for how hard the job is" Woods said of McNamara. 

"With so many different numbers and things that you have to calculate and how to stay in the present and stay in the future for the next shot and other shots and angles and winds, he got a better appreciation I think for how easy Joey made it look."

A reporter put it to Woods: "Is there a scenario where Charlie could be on the bag in a major?"

Woods replied: "I don't know yet. We haven't talked about it."

Pressed further, Woods added: "We haven't talked about it."

Golf fans will not have to wait long to see Woods back in action. 

He is scheduled to play the forthcoming PNC Championship with Charlie over 14-17 December. 

Read more:

• Rory McIlroy goes on sensational (!) rant over looming golf rule changes
• Tiger Woods gives verdict on huge golf rule news: "I've always said that"
• PGA Tour winner offers sarcastic response to massive golf rule news
• Jordan Spieth becomes latest PGA Tour star to discuss Jon Rahm's future