shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Sports News > Other Sports News > Article > Tiger Wood makes another attempt to reclaim his kingdom

Tiger Wood makes another attempt to reclaim his kingdom

Updated on: 29 November,2017 09:34 AM IST  |  Albany (Bahamas)
V Krishnaswamy | sports@mid-day.com

Tiger Woods makes one more attempt to reclaim the kingdom he once owned

Tiger Wood makes another attempt to reclaim his kingdom

Tiger Woods makes one more attempt to re-claim the kingdom he once owned. The 41-year-old legend, whose multiple back problems, as also numerous other injuries, have become the staple of media around the world, will tee off for his first competitive round in nine months at the US$ 3.5 million Hero World Challenge at Albany on Thursday. He will play the first round in the company of the hottest player of 2017, Justin Thomas, 17 years younger than Woods. Thomas is the reigning FedExCup champion and the PGA Tour's Player of the Year.


Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods


Few athletes ranked outside of the Top-1000 command the kind of attention that Woods does. But this man is not 'just another' sportsman, but one who possesses 14 Majors and more than 100 international titles worldwide of which 79 have been on the world's toughest Tour, the PGA. Looking totally at ease and smiling ear to ear, posing with the Hero Motorbikes and on the eve of the tournament that raises funds for his own Tiger Woods Foundation, Woods said, "The fact I don't have any pain in my lower back anymore compared to what I was living with for years, it's just remarkable. There have been periods when I couldn't get out of the bed, let alone swing a club. Sometimes, I didn't think it was going to ever happen. I've been struggling for a long time and to come out of on the good side I'm blessed."


The struggle was clearly quite an effort. "I was struggling to get up from bed and struggled to go to my kids games, it meant so much for me to be able to participate with them in their games and I was not able to do that…now I can play around with football. Toss the baseball around… I feel blessed… I missed being able to do all that." Standing next to him, Pawan Munjal, who has played many a round, he quipped, "He is looking and of course his swing is way better than mine. Jokes apart, his game looks good."

Woods added, "I missed being able to play golf with my friends. I had not done that in close to two years as my back was hurting so much. Now it is fantastic to come back and play with my friends, I call them kids actually. All these are young guys have become very close. I have played a few rounds with JT (Justin Thomas), (Daniel) Berger, Rory (McIlroy), Rickie (Fowler), DJ (Dustin Johnson) you go out there and challenge yourself against these guys and see where do you stand… how good are my skills after a long layoff… in tournament how would I react… That's what I am enjoying." Confidently, he added, "I think I can hit any shot I want, but I still need to go through a tournament… I haven't felt the adrenaline for a long time in my body…"

Eight of the world's Top-10 players will feature in the field that is one of the strongest ever in an invitational event. The field is led by World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and includes three of 2017's major championship winners – U.S. Open winner Brooks Koepka, The Open Championship winner Jordan Spieth and PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas. World No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama is the defending champion who is aiming to regain the title against the star-studded field. The field includes the European Tour's Race to Dubai winner, Tommy Fleetwood and the in-form Bahamas-resident Justin Rose, also the 2016 Olympic gold medallist. The field has winners of 22 major championships (14 of them by Woods). The field also has Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell and Kevin Kisner, all of who have won on the PGA Tour in 2017. Thomas, Alex Noren, Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari, Charley Hoffman and Kisner will tee it up in their first Hero World Challenge.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK