The injury lay-off that forced him off the course for almost two years might have taken the edge out of his game, but the return of Woods, and his lasting four rounds over the weekend, is the news that the golfing world has been awaiting for a long time.
It was not a new Tiger Woods, but it was certainly a different Woods. A completely different person from the one who played the host a year ago, when pain would be replaced by an occasional smile. This time, he was up and about, smiling and laughing, cracking jokes and taking jibes,signing autographs and posing for pictures.
He also played the entire 72 holes at the Hero World Challenge in Albany, the Bahamas, without a complaint, except how he hadn’t played in a long time and how much he missed it. Last year, when he answered questions about his comeback, it appeared that the best golfer of his generation was almost resigned to walking into the sunset. He had put on some weight and he grimaced more than he smiled. The future looked uncertain. If it was a heavy-hearted “goodbye” last year, this time he was eager to greet his friends and fellow tour-mates with a chirpy “hello”.
But one year is a long time in sports. At the 2016 edition of his signature tournament, he was talking about his golf shots, he was talking about testing new equipment, he was talking about pulling out his old Scotty Cameron putter, talking about his driving and the short game, among other things. In short, he was talking golf. And how much he was looking forward to returning to it. Woods had taken his time, he had chosen the right tournament, he had selected the right course and it was the perfect atmosphere. He announced his comeback and then withdrew from Safeway, setting off some alarm bells, as it were, and once again raising questions about his return.
Denne historien er fra January/February 2017-utgaven av Sports Illustrated India.
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Denne historien er fra January/February 2017-utgaven av Sports Illustrated India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.
The Drive For Consistency
Find something you love doing and use that to fall in love with your body, so you can embrace change and sustain a pattern that lets you unlock the best version of yourself
The Phenomenon
Kevin Pietersen may have retired from playing, but he will remain a part of the game and Test cricket folklore for a long time
Powering The Action
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A Steep Learning Curve
Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.
Bench Strength
With the Likes of Nair, Yadav, Jadhav and Chahal Performing With Maturity Over the Past Year, Team India’s Bench Strength Looks Strong Ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)
A legend in his own time, Sir Roger was most proud of his neurology research but his historic sub-four mile run in 1954 is still regarded as one of his best breakthroughs
Battle Ready
A star-studded Indian contingent seeks to reshape its approach with rising talent, even as seasoned warriors in badminton, weight-lifting, shooting and wrestling aim for gold
Safe Passage
The Dustup That Marred the Return of Chris Paul to L.a. Has Faded. As the Point God Settles Into a New Home, He Has a New Running Buddy and a Group of Teammates Who Feel Like a Family