29 November 2023 , 19:11
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Tiger Woods once again wrote his name into professional golf's record books despite withdrawing from this year's Masters Tournament at Augusta National.
Woods has endured a whole host of fitness problems in recent years, after suffering career-threatening injuries in a car accident in Los Angeles in February 2021. His latest came at the opening major of the year, after he was forced to pull out during the third round due to an ankle issue.
It was remarkable that the 15-time major champion made it to the weekend at all, after battling through the elements whilst limping his way around a brutal second round at the iconic Georgia course. In doing so Woods made Masters history, after making a 23rd consecutive cut at, tying the tournament-record tally of fellow greats Gary Player and Fred Couples. Despite making it through to the weekend his tournament came to an end soon after due to injury.
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In the days following the 47-year-old underwent surgery on the issue and has been recovering ever since. After six months away Woods will finally return to the course this week, as he tees it up in the Bahamas at the Hero World Challenge alongside his hosting duties.
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The event is Woods' latest 'comeback' having battled back form numerous issues since his accident in 2021. Ahead of the tournament Woods opened up on a number of topics in a press conference on Wednesday, including the gruelling battle he had faced across the last six months.
"At some point in time I was gonna have to get my ankle replaced or fused. That timetable was sped up," he said. "Ankle just went. That’s why you saw me limping. "The six months of doing nothing… that’s the hard part. The first couple months were really rough. After yet another long period away from the course, Woods did confirm that the pain that blighted his week at Augusta was now no more. "I’m here on the good side now," he added. "I can tell you this I don’t have any of the pain I had at Augusta. That surgery was a success."
Woods heads into the event in uncharted territory, finding himself bottom of the betting market as he takes on an elite, limited field at Albany Golf Club. Despite the bookmakers writing him off, the 82-time PGA Tour winner still believes he can add to his joint-record tally.
"I love competing, I love playing. I miss being out here with the guys, I miss the camaraderie and the fraternity-like atmosphere out here and the overall banter. But what drives me is I love to compete. There will come a point in time, I haven't come around to it fully yet, that I won't be able to win again.
"When that day comes, I'll walk -- well, now I can walk. I won't say run away, but I'm going to walk away." Pressed on if he believes he can add yet another Hero World Challenge title this week, Woods calmly added with a smile: "Absolutely."