Tiger Woods’ long-awaited return to competition after sixteen months on the sidelines due to back injuries has resulted in a moral victory by getting the most birdies but with a mediocre final result (too many bogeys) by finishing second to last among the eighteen contenders that took part in the Hero World Challenge, held in the Bahamas.
The Californian former world number one and winner of fourteen majors totaled 284 strokes (-4) with rounds of 73, 65, 70 and 76, and was 14 strokes behind the champion, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, who won his fourth PGA Tour title on Sunday (in only five tournaments!) and the third of this season.
Matsuyama, 24, started the fourth and final day with a seven-stroke lead over Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, number one on the European Tour, and finished with only two strokes after a final round of 73 (one over par).
The Japanese, winner in February of the Phoenix Open and in October of the WGC-HSBC Championship, made two birdies for a bogey and a double bogey, while the Swede made three birdies and an eagle for a single bogey, making him dream of a comeback.
Three Americans finished five strokes behind: Matt Kuchar, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson.
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