Salute to master of the Masters

hey’re gonna make a movie outa this one day, I tell ya! Wait … haven’t they already made one?

The script seems to have been around since the early days of Hollywood. A young, talented sportsman – they almost always are – fights to overcome prejudice and scepticism and rises to the very pinnacle of his sport. His name runs in headlines in newspapers across the planet and reporters elbow each other out of the way to get a microphone in front of his face.

He’s a hero to little kids, he signs a gazillion autographs, he meets the man in the White House.

Then it all starts to unravel. His back stabs him in the back, his knees wobble, his marriage falls apart. And his talent goes into hibernation.

For a long, long time. He looks like he’s hit the skids when the cops bust him for reckless driving. He says his meds are to blame.

The world moves on. Many people forget about him. He still plays the odd tournament, but he’s a curiosity, not a star. All the while, he’s practising, he’s pushing weights, he’s focusing his mind.

And, finally, he proves all the doomsayers wrong – he lifts the biggest trophy in his sport. Ladies and gentleman –

And the comeback story to top all comeback stories.

When Woods donned the green Masters jacket in Atlanta on Sunday for the fifth time, it was his first Major golf tournament triumph in 11 years.

At the age of 43, he proved something about resilience and also about the wisdom of experience, because his triumph was more of a mind game than a golf game.

It’s also a story of redemption and how there is always a way up, even when you’re at your lowest. We salute you, Tiger Woods. Long may you play.