What is KT Tape? Tiger Woods Spotted With Kinesiology Tape at British Open Before Round 1

Tiger Woods was spotted wearing KT tape at the British Open on Thursday while he was warming up. And, quite predictably, the rumors and speculation began to fly.

Woods—perhaps the greatest golfer of all time—is, of course, in the midst of a major-drought dating back to 2008 after well-documented drama in his personal life and a rash of injuries. Most recently, he had a spinal fusion surgery that seemingly helped him have an amazing recovery after his career was all but written off.

So, spotted with the KT tape on his neck—something he usually doesn't wear—fans began to worry about his health. The elastic KT tape—otherwise known as therapeutic kinesiology tape—aims to provide relief for muscles, ligaments or tendons. Some athletes swear by it and you can often spot them donning it on the playing field—NBA MVP James Harden, for instance, typically wears it on his shoulder.

On the website for the brand KT Tape, it says the aim of the product is to allow movement for lymphatic fluid, which it says can be a part of swelling and inflammation that ramps up pressure on muscles and tissue.

"It is believed that when applied correctly, KT Tape lifts the skin, decompressing the layers of fascia, allowing for greater movement of lymphatic fluid which transports white blood cells throughout the body and removes waste products, cellular debris, and bacteria," the website reads.

In effect, people often use it hoping it'll relieve pressure and ease pain. For those worried about Woods' health, he claims to be feeling OK.

Steve DiMeglio of USA Today tweeted: "Per his camp: @TigerWoods woke up with stiff neck, put on KT tape and quickly felt better. No big deal, nothing major."

Broadcasters on the Golf Channel suggested he simply slept on it wrong. It has been a long road back for the golfer—so people watch his health carefully.

"It's been a tough road," Woods himself said earlier this year, via The Independent. "The amount of times I've fallen because my leg didn't work or I just had to lay on the ground in pain for extended periods of time. Those are some really dark, dark times. I'm a walking miracle…I don't know if anyone who's had a lower back fusion can swing the club as fast as I can swing it. That's incredible."

Of course, with such a difficult injury history, not everyone was ready to take the 42-year-old at his word that he was feeling fine at the major tournament being held in Scotland. He is scheduled to tee off at 10:21 a.m. ET, at which point we'll likely get a better idea of how he's feeling.