Kerr happy to see Tiger's comeback: 'I know the pain he's going through'

Steve Kerr knows all too well how devastating back injuries can be.

The Golden State Warriors head coach missed the first 43 games of the 2015-16 season as he recovered from surgery to repair a ruptured disc. However, the procedure saw him develop a spinal fluid leak, causing the coach headaches and necessitating another surgery that sidelined him until Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Those painful experiences have offered him a better appreciation for Tiger Woods' return to the spotlight in the Hero World Challenge, the lauded golfer's first competitive round in 301 days.

"When you go through a back injury, you understand other people who have been through it," Kerr told the Mercury News' Mark Medina. "Before I had a back issue, I would've just gone 'Oh that's awesome, Tiger's back.' Now, it goes much deeper than that.

"I know the pain he's going through, even though our situations are much different. I'm just so happy to see him out there playing and doing what he loves to do, back at it again. Whether he wins or not, you can tell he's happy."

Since 2014, Woods has undergone four separate surgeries on his back, including a spinal fusion in April that required a six-month recovery period. He fared well in his return to the green, however, finishing 3-under 69 in the first round.

Kerr isn't the only member of the Warriors to show their appreciation for Woods' return.

Stephen Curry admitted on Twitter he too was excited to watch the former world number one compete once again.