‘Walking miracle’ Woods dominates talk
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA: There was a time when Tiger Woods simply playing at the Masters was considered a miracle.
That was when the 14time major winner could not get out of bed.
Woods described the three years since he last played at Augusta National as ‘‘some dark times’’.
‘‘It’s been a tough road,’’ Woods (42) said of his back pain.
‘‘The amount of times I’ve fallen because my leg didn’t work or I had to lay on the ground for extended periods of time, it was tough.’’
It is why noone blinked when Woods declared himself a ‘‘walking miracle’’.
A year after having his spine surgically fused together, Woods is a legitimate chance of winning a fifth Masters green jacket.
‘‘That is a miracle, isn’t it?’’ Woods said.
‘‘I don’t know anyone who has had a lower back fusion that can swing the club as fast as I can swing it. I went from a person who had a hard time getting up, walking around, and sitting down to now swinging the club 129 (miles per hour, 207kmh). That’s incredible.’’
However, Woods did his best to pour cold water on the idea his return is among the greatest comebacks in sporting history.
‘‘Well, I have four rounds to play, so let’s just kind of slow down.’’
But if he wanted to sneak into the back door at Augusta, he should not have finished one shot behind winner Paul Casey at the recent Valspar Championship.
Or have come within one shot of the lead on the back nine during the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational the following week.
His two topfives leading into Augusta ensured the 82nd Masters will be the most anticipated.
But Woods’ captivating injury comeback has overshadowed the other 86 players in the smallest Masters field in 21 years — notably fourtime major winner Rory McIlroy, who can become just the sixth golfer to complete the career grand slam with a win this week.
‘‘I know it would put me in history alongside some of the greatest,’’ said McIlroy, who has won the US Open (2011), British Open (2014) and US PGA Championship (2012, 2014).
‘‘But you have to go out and get it; it’s not going fall into your lap. You have to win the Masters and earn it.’’
Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion, has also been ignored amid ‘‘Tiger mania’’ despite finishing just three shots back of Houston Open winner Ian Poulter last week.
Spieth is feeling confident.
‘‘I feel better coming into this week than I did in 2016 and 2014,’’ Spieth said of the years he finished runnerup at Augusta.
‘‘Being able to work my way into contention . . . last week was a tremendous stepping stone in the right direction.’’
Then there is world No 1 Dustin Johnson, returning a year after withdrawing from the Masters due to a fall down a set of stairs, and No 2 Justin Thomas, fresh off a US Tour win in February.
Also in the winner’s circle this year are past Masters champions Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson, as well as former world No 1 Jason Day.
‘‘The Masters really sets up for a dramatic finish. I absolutely love watching it, but it’s more fun playing,’’ Woods said. — AAP