WOODS TURNS 50 WITH A TROPHY-LADEN ROLLER-COASTER CAREER IN THE BAG

LONDON, Dec 30 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- As Tiger Woods turns 50 on Tuesday, he can reflect on an incredible career that has taken him from child prodigy to one of the biggest names in sport and bounce back from dramatic lows to claim a memorable 15th major title that many thought would never come, reported PA Media/dpa.

The pinnacle of his trophy-laden career came over 11 months between 2000 and 2001, when he was unbeatable at major championships, completing the ‘Tiger Slam’ by holding all four titles at the same time.

While he remains three short of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major wins, there is a strong argument that Woods is golf’s greatest of all time.

His rise to the top started from a very young age.

Woods was imitating his father’s swing aged just six months and appeared on television with Bob Hope before his third birthday, and soon after shot 48 for nine holes.

Amateur success turned seamlessly into professional glory, and Woods went on to dominate the game incredibly, winning 54 times between 1999 and 2006 and claiming the United States (US) Open in 2008 despite suffering a double stress fracture and knee injury, which prompted season-ending surgery.

But after such a momentous rise, the fall from grace was equally incredible, a car crash near his home in November 2009 eventually leading to admissions of infidelity and Woods taking an “indefinite break” from golf.

Woods returned to action with a tie for fourth at the 2010 Masters but failed to win that season for the first time since turning professional.

Something approaching normal service resumed the following two years, but after winning five times in 2013, Woods started just 24 events in the next four years as the pain from his back often left him grimacing or having to withdraw from events entirely.

In 2017, Woods underwent spinal fusion surgery. The following month, with five prescription drugs in his system, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence when he was found asleep at the wheel of his car and later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.

Back on the PGA Tour in 2018, Woods missed the cut in his second event but crucially felt fit enough to add tournaments to his schedule, and a return to form soon followed, most notably when he led the Open Championship with eight holes to play and then finished runner-up in the US PGA before winning the Tour Championship in September.

Exhausted by his performance in Atlanta, Woods lost all four of his matches at the following week’s Ryder Cup in Paris, but recovered sufficiently to play five events at the start of 2019 before arriving at Augusta for the 83rd Masters.

Starting the final round two shots off the lead, Woods held his nerve on a chaotic final day to win his 15th major title, and first in 11 years, prompting many to label it the greatest comeback in sport.

--BERNAMA-PA Media/dpa