(CNN) One of the most famous people in the US, Tiger Woods is urging his compatriots to "unite" during some turbulent times the country has arguably been recently experiencing.

The former world No. 1 golfer encouraged Americans to "come together and do what's best for our country," speaking to CNN's Living Golf show in Dubai

Woods was talking in the aftermath of President Trump's controversial immigration ban , which has caused ructions in the US and throughout the rest of the world.

Trump's order has suspended the US refugee system for 120 days, suspended the Syrian refugee program indefinitely, and banned entry from seven Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days, among other things.

"We need to unite, and be Americans," said Woods, who played golf with the then president-elect in December.

"I know there is a lot of divisiveness as of right now but time, patience and unity I think will win out."

Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback A "back spasm" has forced Tiger Woods to withdraw from the Dubai Desert Classic. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback Tiger Woods suffered another difficult opening day in his second tournament since returning from a long injury layoff. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback Woods carded a five-over par round of 77 on the opening day of the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic Thursday. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback The former world No. 1 didn't record a single birdie on the opening day. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback Woods' once-legendary touch on the greens eluded him at the Emirates Golf Club. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback "I didn't hit the ball very well," he told reporters after his round, EuropeanTour.com reported. "I left probably about 16 putts short. I just couldn't get the speed of these things and, consequently, it added up to a pretty high number." Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback Woods missed the cut on his return to action in last month's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, California. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback A dejected-looking Woods leaves the ninth green at the end of his first round as playing partners Matthew Fitzpatrick and Masters champion Danny Willett of England shake hands behind him. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback "I'm fighting my ass off to try and shoot a score," Woods said, EuropeanTour.com reported. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback Spain's Sergio Garcia was the early tournament leader with a seven-under 65, one shot better South Africa's George Coetzee and Felipe Aguilar from Chile. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Tiger Woods 2017 comeback Woods is currently in a tie for 124th and in danger of missing the cut. Hide Caption 11 of 11

'Not funny'

The 41-year-old, making his second appearance of the year in Dubai this week, feared he would never play golf again during "dark times" as he recovered from multiple back surgeries in late 2015.

Burj Al Arab moved the driving range! Amazing Dubai helicopter tour - check out the video. Can't wait for Dubai Desert Classic - TW #DDC17 pic.twitter.com/ZtCT7k6d4i — Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 1, 2017

"It was a tough, tough road," said Woods, who returned to golf in December after 15 months out. "There was a lot of dark times where I couldn't get out of bed, couldn't move, the pain was too great.

"Anyone who's ever had nerve pain in their back, they certainly understand what that feels like. I honestly didn't know this time last year, I didn't know if I'd ever play golf again. Just because of the fact that it's nerve pain."

Woods has also missed several spells for knee surgery, notably after winning the last of his 14 major titles in 2008.

"You know, I've had a damaged knee, I've had a few operations on the knee, give me that any day of the week," he said.

"I'd rather have that every day and deal with that pain than deal with nerve pain. It's like hitting your funny bone a thousand times a day. It becomes not so funny."

'No pain'

Woods is playing this week's Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour, his second tournament in a row after missing the cut on his 2017 season-opener in California last week.

Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Tiger Woods clinched his fifth Masters and 15th major title with victory at Augusta in April. Hide Caption 1 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows The former world No. 1 had not won the Masters since 2005, and it was his first major win since 2008. Hide Caption 2 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows A month after winning the Masters, Woods received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Donald Trump. Hide Caption 3 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods won the season-ending Tour Championship in September 2018. It was his first title in five years following a succession of back injuries. Hide Caption 4 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Signs that Woods was back to his best were obvious at August's PGA Championship, where he finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka. It followed an impressive showing at July's British Open, where he briefly topped the leaderboard. Hide Caption 5 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods made an impressive return to competitive golf in 2018 after multiple back surgeries in recent years. He played his first Masters in three years in April 2018. Hide Caption 6 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows The four-time champion had back fusion surgery -- his fourth procedure -- in April 2017 and returned to the game pain-free in December. He finished tied 32nd at Augusta. Hide Caption 7 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods was touted as one of the favorites after impressing in his early-season events. He also set tongues wagging by playing a practice round with old rival Phil Mickelson, right. Hide Caption 8 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods finished tied second at the Valspar Championship in March 2018 and followed it up with a tie for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The hype needle moved into overdrive. Hide Caption 9 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods set out on his legendary path by becoming the youngest winner of the Masters -- at 21 -- with a record 12-shot win in 1997. Hide Caption 10 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows One of his most remarkable feats was winning his first US Open by an unprecedented 15 shots at Pebble Beach, California, in 2000, sparking a streak never seen before or since. Hide Caption 11 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods' victory in the 2001 Masters meant he held all four of golf's major titles at the same time, dubbed the "Tiger Slam." Hide Caption 12 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods' win rate, his dedication to fitness training and his desire to succeed were changing golf. Prize money rocketed because of Woods. Off the course, he married girlfriend Elin Nordegren in 2004. Hide Caption 13 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods showed rare emotion when he broke down in tears on the shoulder of caddie Steve Williams following his win in the 2006 British Open at Hoylake, months after his father and mentor Earl passed away. Hide Caption 14 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Despite being visibly hampered and in pain from a knee injury, Woods won the US Open in breathtaking fashion at Torrey Pines, California, in 2008. It was his 14th major title to leave him only four behind the record of Jack Nicklaus. He was later diagnosed with knee ligament damage and two fractures of his left tibia. He missed the rest of the season after surgery. It is still his last major title. Hide Caption 15 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows In December 2009, Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his home. As the big picture emerged it was discovered Woods had been conducting a series of extra martial affairs. He took three months away from the game to sort out his private life. Hide Caption 16 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows In February 2010 Woods addressed the world's media to explain and apologise for his actions. His infidelity led to divorce and was the beginning of a downhill slide in Woods' playing career. By October he lost the world No. 1 ranking, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks Hide Caption 17 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Back in the fold, Woods earned his first win in two years at the Chevron World Challenge in December 2011, a charity tournament he hosts that does not count on the PGA Tour money list. Hide Caption 18 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods was back in the winner's circle in 2013, lifting five titles, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, to get back to the top of the rankings. Hide Caption 19 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced they were dating on Facebook. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following. Hide Caption 20 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Later in 2013 there were signs all was not well as Woods was seen to be in pain as he picked the ball out of the hole at the Barclays tournament in August. He missed the Masters the following April for the first time since 1994 to undergo back surgery. Hide Caption 21 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open in February 2015, and struggled with injury and form for the rest of the season. Hide Caption 22 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods cut a dejected figure at that year's US Open as he struggled with his game and carded rounds of 80 and 76 to miss the cut. Hide Caption 23 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows In August 2015 Woods made his last appearance for 15 months to undergo follow-up back surgeries. At one stage during his rehabilitation, Woods spoke of there being "no light at the end of the tunnel" -- and with one eye on his fading career, he suggested "everything beyond this will be gravy." Hide Caption 24 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods made a much-anticipated return to golf in December 2016, showing signs of promise with the highest number of birdies in the field -- 24 -- but he also made a number of costly errors to finish third from last in the 18-man event. Hide Caption 25 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows He missed the cut in his first event of 2017 in the US and pulled out after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, citing back spasms. He underwent a fourth back prodecure in April. Hide Caption 26 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows The golf legend was arrested Monday, May 29, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into a local jail in Florida and released a few hours later. He said in a statement he had "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications." Hide Caption 27 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows In August Woods entered a first-offender program and pleaded guilty to reckless driving on October 28. He will avoid jail unless he commits major violations of his probation. Hide Caption 28 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lows Woods returned to golf after 301 days at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on November 30 2017. He carded a three-under first-round 69 and appeared pain-free and hungry to resume his career. Hide Caption 29 of 29

The Californian says he was rusty at Torrey Pines in what was only his second event back, following December's Hero World Challenge.

But he is unconcerned what people think about his technique, which has undergone various reincarnations over the years to accommodate his injuries.

"I just play away from pain, it's very simple," said Woods. "Whatever that swing looks like, if it looks awful, then fine, I don't care.

"If it looks like Jim Furyk, that's fine, too," added Woods, referring to the Ryder Cup captain whose unconventional swing has been likened to an "octopus falling out of a tree," among other things, though it has netted him a US Open and 17 PGA Tour wins.

"As long as I don't have pain, I can play."

Tiger Woods: 'If [my swing] looks like Jim Furyk, that's fine.'

Chasing records

Woods insists his competitive fire burns just as fiercely, despite his advancing years and his time away from the game.

"That hasn't changed," he said. "That part is still there. I just need to get to where I'm playing enough tournament rounds to hit tournament shots. Hitting shots with your buddies back home is not the same as hitting tournament shots."

JUST WATCHED What does it take to make Jason's perfect Day? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What does it take to make Jason's perfect Day? 02:09

Woods is also scheduled to play the Genesis Open in California (February 16-19) and the Honda Classic in Florida (February 23-26) as he builds up to a return to Augusta for the Masters in April.

He won the last of his four green jackets there in 2005, but has had seven top-six finishes in his nine appearances since then.

Woods has won 79 PGA Tour titles, second only to Sam Snead's record of 82, but none since he clinched five wins in 2013.

He remains four major titles behind Jack Nicklaus' record of 18.