Hero World Challenge 2016: Thursday Leaderboard Scores and Highlights

J.B. Holmes raced to the lead in the first round at the Hero World Challenge on Thursday in the Bahamas, finishing the afternoon with an eight-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Hideki Matsuyama.

Tiger Woods, who was back in action for the first time since August 2015, finished the day with a one-over 73.

Here's a look at the leaderboard:

While Holmes was excellent throughout the day, finishing with just one bogey, seven birdies and an eagle, Woods put together a fantastic opening eight holes before his round soured. He birdied Nos. 3, 6, 7 and 8 on the front nine and looked to be in contention, but rust appeared to settle in down the stretch.

Bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11 and double bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 spoiled what might have been a brilliant return to action for the 14-time major champion, who finished with five birdies on the day.

After the round, Woods broke down his performance, via the PGA Tour:

"I let a really good round slip away at the end," Woods added, per Jason Sobel of ESPN.com. "I just made some really silly mistakes, mistakes I don't normally make."

It was an up-and-down showing from Woods.

At times, he flashed the ability that has made him one of the most successful golfers in the history of the sport, via the PGA Tour:

"

First Tiger Woods fist pump of the year.#QuickHits https://t.co/uuEAvjv0tw

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 1, 2016"

At other times, he looked like the player who hasn't won a major since 2008 or a tournament since 2013, as the PGA Tour shared:

Overall, it isn't much of a surprise that Woods is nine strokes off the leader, but his strong start to the round was promising.

Still, it's hard to ignore that his round went awry pretty quickly, which Golf Digest lampooned:

Mike Greenberg of ESPN, on the other hand, was happy just to see Woods back in action:

"

Not vintage Tiger but not bad either. So good to see him back out there. #tigerwoods

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 1, 2016"

Woods may steal the headlines, but Holmes stole the show. He was brilliant Thursday, and while a talented field led by Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar and Louis Oosthuizen is breathing down his neck, Holmes put himself in the running to take home a victory in the Bahamas.

Of course, the scores at the World Hero Challenge feel like an afterthought with Woods in action. Despite his struggles in recent years, he remains one of the most intriguing players in the game after his publicized fall from grace and his perhaps even more publicized fall from dominance.

How he continues to tackle the course will remain the top storyline in the Bahamas. And if he can replicate his form from the opening eight holes without also replicating his play over the next 10, Woods will head into 2017 as one of the biggest storylines on the PGA Tour.

Once again.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.