From the start of 2014 through the end of 2017, Woods played in just 24 tournaments, his troublesome back which required three microdiscectomy procedures during the time keeping him away from the golf course.
Tiger Woods grabs his back after his drive on the ninth hole and would later withdraw in the final round of The Honda Classic golf tournament at PGA National GC Champion Course. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
In early 2017, he withdrew from two events. At the Champions Dinner that year at Augusta National Golf Club, he told a few members of the elite fraternity his playing days might be over.
The next day, however, Woods traveled overseas to meet with Hail Mary. In England, he met with a back specialist, who recommended to Woods a risky procedure. Woods, with his way of life in jeopardy, let alone his golf career, decided to have an anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery two weeks later. The procedure was performed by Dr. Richard Guyer of the Center for Disc Replacement at the Texas Back Institute.
Woods built up his body and game and finished in a tie for ninth in the Hero World Challenge seven months later. In 2018, he continued his remarkable return to the game by playing 19 times and contending in the final two majors of the year – he tied for sixth in the British Open and finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka in the PGA Championship. Six weeks later, he won The Tour Championship, his first victory since 2013.
Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates making a par on the 18th green to win the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 23, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
His form carried into 2019 and to Augusta National. In the Masters, he had five solid starts under his belt as he drove down Magnolia Lane. After rounds of 70-68-67, Woods stood two shots out of the lead with 18 to play. In a tense battle in the final round, where five of the contenders dunked balls into Rae’s Creek on the 12th hole, Woods and his experience shot 70 to win by one shot over Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele.
He thrust both his arms to the sky to begin his celebration of his first Masters victory since 2005 and his first major – his 15th – since he won the 2008 U.S. Open on a broken leg and torn knee ligaments. At 43, he became the second-oldest player to win the Masters, trailing just Nicklaus.
Tiger Woods celebrates after making a putt on the 18th green to win the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo by Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports
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