Tiger Woods has returned to compete at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for a third time, with this week’s PGA Championship destined to land somewhere in the middle of where his first two ended. “I can still hit shots. It’s getting around that is more of the difficulty I face on the day to day, and the recovery of either practice or pushing myself in competition.
In 2000, Woods authored one of his more memorable major titles when he outlasted Bob May in a final-round duel that included a three-hole play-off. “I wish my game was a little bit sharper … But at the end of the day, I need to be ready mentally and physically come Thursday.
In a scene that has come to define Woods’ unwavering determination, the 15-time major champion marched behind his long putt on the first play-off hole at Valhalla, with a pointed index finger that demanded the ball go into the hole. “You saw it at Augusta. I was right there after two days and didn’t do well on the weekend.”
It obliged. When Woods tapped in his short winning putt to seal the second consecutive of an eventual four PGA Championship titles, he offered a trademark spinning fist pump. Tiger Woods has returned to compete at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for a third time, with this week’s PGA Championship destined to land somewhere in the middle of where his first two ended.
“It was a fun week and unbelievable moment, really,” Woods said Wednesday (AEST). In 2000, Woods authored one of his more memorable major titles when he outlasted Bob May in a final-round duel that included a three-hole play-off.
Woods touched on the passing of the torch that occurred in that 2000 event as he played his first two rounds with Jack Nicklaus, who was playing in his final PGA Championship. In a scene that has come to define Woods’ unwavering determination, the 15-time major champion marched behind his long putt on the first play-off hole at Valhalla, with a pointed index finger that demanded the ball go into the hole.
Nicklaus failed to make the cut. It obliged.
There also was Woods’ quest for his third consecutive major title that year after winning the U.S Open and Open Championship. When Woods tapped in his short winning putt to seal the second consecutive of an eventual four PGA Championship titles, he offered a trademark spinning fist pump.
Woods not only became the first to win three majors in a calendar year since Ben Hogan in 1953, he would also be three-quarters through a run of four consecutive titles. “It was a fun week and unbelievable moment, really,” Woods said Wednesday (AEST).
He won the Masters in 2001 to make it four majors in four tries in an accomplishment that would be dubbed the “Tiger Slam.” Woods touched on the passing of the torch that occurred in that 2000 event as he played his first two rounds with Jack Nicklaus, who was playing in his final PGA Championship.
“Well, I just remember the pressure I felt,” Woods said of his quest to match Hogan.” “… The summer was a whirlwind. I was playing well.” Nicklaus failed to make the cut.
But with the ups, there were the downs. There also was Woods’ quest for his third consecutive major title that year after winning the U.S Open and Open Championship.
Woods’ appearance in the 2014 PGA at Valhalla was marked by back issues as he missed the cut at six-over-par. Woods not only became the first to win three majors in a calendar year since Ben Hogan in 1953, he would also be three-quarters through a run of four consecutive titles.
He already had undergone one back procedure at that point and his spine was ultimately fused. He won the Masters in 2001 to make it four majors in four tries in an accomplishment that would be dubbed the “Tiger Slam.”
Injury issues were only beginning to catch up with a player who transcended golf. “Well, I just remember the pressure I felt,” Woods said of his quest to match Hogan.” “… The summer was a whirlwind. I was playing well.”
“Coming into ’14, I wasn’t feeling very good,” Woods said. But with the ups, there were the downs.
“I’m always going to feel soreness and stiffness in my back, but that’s OK. I just need other body parts to start feeling better.” Woods’ appearance in the 2014 PGA at Valhalla was marked by back issues as he missed the cut at six-over-par.
Where he can take his game this week is anybody’s guess. He already had undergone one back procedure at that point and his spine was ultimately fused
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His single-car accident in February 2021 and subsequent major surgery on his right leg have left him a part-time participant on tour. “Coming into ’14, I wasn’t feeling very good,” Woods said.
This week will be Woods’ third tournament of the year. “I’m always going to feel soreness and stiffness in my back, but that’s OK. I just need other body parts to start feeling better.”
He withdrew from the Genesis Open near Los Angeles in February after one round because of illness and made the cut at the Masters last month before finishing 60th at 16-over-par. Where he can take his game this week is anybody’s guess.
He was last among all competitors who played all four rounds. His single-car accident in February 2021 and subsequent major surgery on his right leg have left him a part-time participant on tour.
“Yeah, my body’s OK. It is what it is,” Woods said. This week will be Woods’ third tournament of the year.
