Tiger Woods back to prowl Albany links in the Bahamas

By Rahul Banerji

For golf fans around the world, Tiger Woods’ return brought a new level of excitement and anticipation as he hit the links for the first time at last year’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Little did they know, he was going to provide them an action-packed season.

Woods secured seven top-10 finishes this year, including second place at the PGA Championship and victory in the Tour Championship. It was his 80^th career title

Woods’ last round of a 64 at the 2018 PGA Championship was his best score in a major ever. After a 19-foot birdie putt on the last hole, he let out a trademark celebratory fist pump.

Back in play

Although Woods did not claim the trophy, he knew he was back in the game after a long and difficult road to recovery.

Shortly after, Woods recorded his 80th PGA Tour career victory, finishing the season-ending tournament with a final round of 1-over-par 71 and a two-shot lead.

Thousands of fans gathered, chanting and cheering as he held up his 80th PGA Tour trophy at the 2018 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I appreciate it a little bit more than I did because I don’t take it for granted that I’m going to have another decade or two decades in my future of playing golf at this level,” Woods said later,

Deep appreciation

“It means a lot more to me now in that sense because I didn’t know if I’d ever be out here playing again, doing this again.’’

Over his extended career, Woods has changed the face of golf, winning a near-record 14 major championships. Only Jack Nicjkaus with 18 lies ahead of him.

Since the inception of the Hero World Challenge in 1998, Woods holds the most Hero World Challenge victories at five, and will be looking to add another win this year at Albany.

Tiger Woods is the tournament host of the Hero World Challenge, an event he and his father Earl established in 1998 to benefit his foundation.

The fifth edition of the Hero World Challenge will be played at Albany from November 29 to December 2

Oh, and by the way, Tiger Woods at the moment sits at 13th in the Official Golf World Rankings (OGWR), ahead of Jordan Speith, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson Tony Finau and Phil Mickelson after returning ranked way, way down the order.

Can’t keep a good man down.

Also read: Bahamas golf scholarship for promising Karnataka teen Pranavi Urs