Fit-again Tiger on par with Sam
MILESTONE: HE’S THE BEST PGA TOUR GOLFER OF ALL TIME
Tiger Woods said yesterday his latest injury comeback to win the Zozo Championship and tie the US PGA Tour’s win record had ended the “most challenging” phase of his storied career.
Woods held off Hideki Matsuyama at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club to equal Sam Snead’s record of 82 wins and move to No 6 in the world rankings from 10th.
It was his first tournament since arthroscopic left knee surgery in August and came after he started on Thursday with three straight bogeys.
Four back surgeries, countless knee operations, marital strife and run-ins with the law meant Woods had not won a Major since 2008 and no tournaments since 2013 when he teed up at the Players Championship at East Lake, Atlanta, just over a year ago.
He had endured two years out and hobbled out of the February 2018 Dubai Desert Classic with back spasms on his return.
His ranking plummeted to 656 at the end of 2017, and with form and fitness deserting him many felt he might never get the three further tour wins he needed.
Not only did he win the Tour Championship for his first victory in five years, but Woods went onto secure a fifth Green Jacket and 15th Major at Augusta earlier this year to stand just three behind Jack Nicklaus’ record 18.
And now he stands unsurpassed as the most successful PGA Tour golfer of all time after victory at the weather-delayed inaugural tournament in Japan.
“It’s satisfying to dig my way out of it and figure out a way,” said Woods, who finished three shots clear on 19-under par.
“I didn’t really know I would come back and play at this level.
“But I’ve come back with different games over the years, moving patterns, and this one’s been obviously the most challenging,” he said, after four stunning rounds of 64, 64, 66 and 67 for a threestroke win. – AFP