The former No. 1 and 14 major’s winner Tiger Woods has seen a dramatically positive return to form of recent but it could have been very different. Just last year, he was on the verge of quitting the sport completely after back problems plagued him so badly that he was actually unable to walk at one point.
At the Masters Champions dinner of 2017, he disclosed to his fellow golfers that he was going to quit. Faldo revealed Woods’ thoughts from that time yesterday and Tiger has now confirmed it was true. He said: “At that time, I was done. I didn’t know what I was going to be doing. I had no golf in my future at that time. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t sit.”
Woods had spinal fusion surgery
Woods decided on further back surgery, which would be his fourth operation in three years. The spinal fusion procedure that he had was to try and relieve the pain he was in, rather than as a solution to get back to playing golf. At the time he was on heavy medication, which led to his DUI arrest and another bad chapter to his turbulent life.
Tiger is back – finishes 2nd at Bellerive
Fortunately, the back surgery went incredibly well and enabled him to start playing golf again. His recent performance in the PGA Championship at Bellerive where he came second is the highlight of his comeback so far but it feels like it will be only a matter of time before he wins a high profile tournament.
The Northern Trust starts today and this is another perfect opportunity for Tiger to step up his comeback and remind the golfing world what he is capable of. Many bookies are placing him at 14-1, showing that they are backing him to deliver at Ridgewood Country Club.
