Tiger’s comeback gathers more pace
TIGER Woods didn’t shoot the best opening round at Bay Hill.
But after he made a 21m bomb for birdie on the seventh hole, the reverberations of a comeback gaining momentum by the hole were felt by bookmakers the world over.
The 14- time major champion, in just his fourth event after spinal fusion surgery last year and a bunch of other operations since 2013, finished the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational four shots behind Henrik Stenson, who sits on eight- under. Aussie Marc Leishman shot an opening two- under 70, Jason Day a 73.
But Woods, 42, also finished the opening round as the new favourite for the Masters at Augusta next month, which he has won four times and in which he will be lining up for the first time since 2015.
A win at Augusta from Woods, written off by golf pundits the world over when he slipped out of the top 1000 in the world rankings, would make for one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever. But he is ticking so many boxes, with his swing, his “feel” and possibly more importantly than anything, his confidence, that a fifth green jacket is now at the upper end of Augusta possibilities.
“I was struggling there for a number of years there and it was a very difficult life to live and now on this side I’m just very thankful to be here,” Woods said at Bay Hill.
“I enjoy just playing again after what I’ve been through. Playing feels good.”