AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods finished near the bottom of the Masters leaderboard on Sunday, but even tee up this week at Augusta National puts the 15-time major winner among the select bands of legendary sports comebacks.
Woods threw the golf world into a frenzy on Thursday when he scored a one-under-par 71 in his first round of competitive golf since the car crash that nearly resulted in doctors amputating his right leg just 14 months ago.
The 46-year-old would have made the cut but four rounds on a bumpy layout proved too much as Woods closed with six over 78 on Saturday and Sunday, his worst scoring streak at Augusta National that left him 23 shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
For golf fans, the Woods saga has evoked memories of Ben Hogan, one of the greatest athletes of all time. Hogan suffered multiple injuries in a near-fatal car crash in 1949 that left doctors worried he might never walk again – but went on to win six majors.
“Obviously, he didn’t have the technology we have today but the amount of hot tub he has to take before a lap, after a lap, in the middle of the night, just to be able to get up and rock the club the next day, I certainly appreciate that,” Woods told reporters. journalist in Augusta.
“If I had to go through my accident, considering what happened to me, during his era, I wouldn’t be playing this week, that’s for sure.”
Hogan is one of the few sports star names that fans could hope to utter in the same conversation as Woods’ incredible comeback.
The other is former number one Monica Seles, who was unable to compete for more than two years after a knife attack on court but returned to win the Australian Open in 1996.
Also in the rare group is Canadian ice hockey player Mario Lemieux, who overcame cancer and returned from a three-year retirement in 2000 before winning Olympic gold for Canada in 2002.
Three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda’s Ferrari caught fire at the 1976 German Grand Prix. He was nearly killed by smoke inhalation and suffered severe burns – but the Austrian driver returned to the cockpit just six weeks later and would win two more championships after the accident.
Woods declined to be compared to such heroics, telling reporters he was delighted to be playing again after years of surgery and personal problems.
“Just to be able to play, and not just play, but I did a good first round,” Woods said. “I found myself there.
“I didn’t have the endurance I wanted, but a few weeks ago, I didn’t even know if I was going to play in this event.
“To go from that to here, we’re excited about the future prospects.”
Woods threw the golf world into a frenzy on Thursday when he scored a one-under-par 71 in his first round of competitive golf since the car crash that nearly resulted in doctors amputating his right leg just 14 months ago.
The 46-year-old would have made the cut but four rounds on a bumpy layout proved too much as Woods closed with six over 78 on Saturday and Sunday, his worst scoring streak at Augusta National that left him 23 shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
For golf fans, the Woods saga has evoked memories of Ben Hogan, one of the greatest athletes of all time. Hogan suffered multiple injuries in a near-fatal car crash in 1949 that left doctors worried he might never walk again – but went on to win six majors.
“Obviously, he didn’t have the technology we have today but the amount of hot tub he has to take before a lap, after a lap, in the middle of the night, just to be able to get up and rock the club the next day, I certainly appreciate that,” Woods told reporters. journalist in Augusta.
“If I had to go through my accident, considering what happened to me, during his era, I wouldn’t be playing this week, that’s for sure.”
Hogan is one of the few sports star names that fans could hope to utter in the same conversation as Woods’ incredible comeback.
The other is former number one Monica Seles, who was unable to compete for more than two years after a knife attack on court but returned to win the Australian Open in 1996.
Also in the rare group is Canadian ice hockey player Mario Lemieux, who overcame cancer and returned from a three-year retirement in 2000 before winning Olympic gold for Canada in 2002.
Three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda’s Ferrari caught fire at the 1976 German Grand Prix. He was nearly killed by smoke inhalation and suffered severe burns – but the Austrian driver returned to the cockpit just six weeks later and would win two more championships after the accident.
Woods declined to be compared to such heroics, telling reporters he was delighted to be playing again after years of surgery and personal problems.
“Just to be able to play, and not just play, but I did a good first round,” Woods said. “I found myself there.
“I didn’t have the endurance I wanted, but a few weeks ago, I didn’t even know if I was going to play in this event.
“To go from that to here, we’re excited about the future prospects.”
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