Although his victory in the Chevron World Challenge last December put an end to a winless streak that extended two years, Tiger Woods has not won an official tournament (the Chevron is not) of ‘his’ Tour, the American Tour, since he won the BMW Championship in 2009. The masterful Californian player begins his new PGA Tour season this weekend in Pebble Beach, home of some of Woods’ greatest achievements, where the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is being held. Will Tiger return to reignite his laurels or will we never again enjoy the Extraterrestrial who amazed the world so much? His injuries and tumultuous family life are behind him, and the work he is doing with Sean Foley to improve his swing has to show on the course.
A long awaited triumph
Two years after his personal life and golf career plummeted, Tiger Woods regained his winning status last December. Second by one stroke with two holes left to play, Woods closed out the final day with two straight birdies to win the Chevron World Challenge in California by one stroke over 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods holed a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to card a 69, three under par. With an energetic arm swing, he celebrated a long-awaited triumph.
The former world number one won his 83rd title, his first since the Australian Masters he won on November 15, 2009 – a wait of 26 official tournaments. Woods crashed his pickup truck outside his home two years ago on Thanksgiving night in a mishap that triggered a series of shocking revelations about extramarital affairs.
The victory after a 749-day drought could mark the beginning of the star’s comeback. Woods wasn’t sure if he felt relief, satisfaction or a sense of revenge. “Whatever it is, it feels wonderful,” he said. “I was in contention for titles twice this year, which isn’t much,” he added. “So this was the third chance to win, and this time I did it.” The personal scandal shattered Woods’ winning image, led to his divorce and the loss of four major sponsors.
Since then, he changed swing coach and caddie and suffered injuries that caused him to miss two majors and miss the cut in another. The other two times he was in contention for a title this year were the Masters and the Australian Open. The Chevron World Challenge is organized by Woods’ foundation, to which he will donate 1.2 million dollars after finishing with 278 strokes, ten under par.
“I felt normal, I felt very comfortable,” Woods said. “I’ve been in this situation so many times that I felt very comfortable. Was I nervous? No doubt, I’m always nervous in that situation. But it’s a comfortable feeling and I enjoy it.” “For some reason,” he added, “it gives me a kind of comfort to have a chance to win.”
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