It’s back to the future as miracle cure lifts Woods

NOW I CAN COMPETE ANYWHERE, HE SAYS

ON Tuesday at the Masters last year, Tiger Woods went to take his seat next to Jack Nicklaus at the Champions Dinner and found he couldn’t do so.

‘There was a nerve going down my leg that felt like it was on fire and my back was completely fried,’ he said. Forgive him, therefore, for feeling like the miracle man with a new lease of life as he bounced into the press room on the same day this year.

On the practice range the players are so astonished they’re asking him if he thinks it advisable for them to have fusion back surgery so they can swing the club harder.

‘It’s just crazy,’ said Woods. ‘I’ve gone from my leg collapsing on me and lying on the floor for long periods because my back couldn’t support my weight to swinging the club faster than I did in my prime.

‘I wish I could explain it to you. When they explained the fusion surgery to me I thought that was it, that I was going to have a nice, comfortable life but that I would never swing the club like I could speed-wise.

‘But all of a sudden the pop is back and now I’m going to be out here for a very long time because I have my length back to compete on any course. That is a miracle, isn’t it?’

It certainly sounds like one to everyone who loves golf.

For the past two years Woods has left Augusta on the Wednesday before the tournament starts.

‘I can’t tell you how hard that has been,’ he said. ‘I love the Masters. I got home and watched it all, and I always will. But there’s nothing like being out here playing.’

At one point, Woods was asked about his infamous past and whether he thought he was treated too harshly given the current political climate and what’s been happening in Hollywood. Imagine the death stare that question would have provoked in days gone by?

The new Woods simply started laughing and then replied, with great charm: ‘Yeah, I’m really excited to play the Masters this week.’

He did add that he had learned much from his past that had helped him both in life and in his career, and that much was in evidence earlier, when this Tiger showed he really is a different animal.

Not only was he smiling and acknowledging the galleries, he played a practice round with Phil Mickelson. Given their past enmity, that was a small miracle in itself.

This was actually the first time they had ever practised together at a major, and Mickelson looked like he’d dressed up for the occasion, wearing a formal-looking white shirt.

‘Where’s your tie?’ smirked Tiger. They were even on the same side, taking on Fred Couples and the Belgian Thomas Pieters.

The last time Woods and Mickelson were partners was a priceless foursomes match at the 2004 Ryder Cup, where they blew a three-up lead.

Mickelson, who had chosen that week to use a new driver, sliced his tee shot horribly against a fence at the 18th to condemn them to defeat. The look of contempt on Tiger’s face was a picture.

Not yesterday, as they took turns to send their enormous following into rapture. Over a five-hole stretch they were seven under par. Such was the noise and hoopla, you had to continually remind yourself that it was only Tuesday, not Thursday.

‘I think they took great pleasure in beating us up very badly,’ said Couples, who was perhaps grateful they only played the back nine.

From the 13th, Tiger went eagle-par-eagle-birdie, which would be quite useful tomorrow. What a privilege it was to be there to watch him and Mickelson at the par-five 15th. As we waited for them to arrive, a turtle climbed out of the pond protecting the green for a better look.

First Woods, with a drive that was fully 25 yards past the other three, took on the sucker pin placement on the left and pulled it off, slinging a mid-iron over the water to six feet. As he walked over the Sarazen Bridge, the packed grandstand gave him a standing ovation.

After he tapped in, the two legends who have won almost $200million between them on the PGA Tour went behind the sliver of green to practise their chipping. Using the same club, Mickelson hit a couple high, a couple low, before coming up with his grandstand finish.

Off the tightest of lies and with the club face wide open, he swung hard at the ball and sent it almost

vertically into the air. The green was only four paces from where he was standing but the ball pitched on the edge, trickled 10ft down a slope and, with the crowd urging it on, fell into the hole.

Woods started laughing, and wandered over to bump knuckles with the golfing Messi. Not even Tiger has that shot in his locker. ‘It was incredible,’ said Woods. As a long-standing observer, it still took some getting used to, hearing Woods speak in such glowing terms about Mickelson.

‘In recent team competitions where I’ve been an assistant captain and had to take on a different role, Phil was great,’ said Woods, explaining their changed dynamic. ‘He was trying to help me out when I was trying to make a comeback, asking if there was anything he could do.’

Mickelson added: ‘I texted him when he was in contention at the Valspar Championship recently and said I feel like I’m in a strange time continuum where I’m rooting hard for you to do well.’

Couples made a bold prediction. ‘They’re both playing so well it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they’re playing together late on Sunday,’ he said. ‘They threw so many birdies and eagles at us, and I can see fun times for both of them this season. They will both be playing on America’s Ryder Cup team, for sure.’