Tiger Woods has announced his latest comeback after nine months on the sidelines. WADE PRETORIUS looks at his history of returns to competitive golf.
2008
After his runner-up finish at The Masters (won by SA’s Trevor Immelman), Woods undergoes arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage to his left knee. The bad news is compounded by a pair of stress fractures in his left tibia. The injuries do little to prevent him from teeing up and winning the US Open at Torrey Pines – his 14th Major victory. Shortly thereafter he has surgery on his ACL in his left knee.
Woods returns next February, but loses to Tim Clark in the second round of the WGC-Match Play Championship. A few weeks later, he wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational – the first of six wins that season before eventually going on to win the FedExCup.
2010
A neck injury causes Woods to withdraw from the final round of The Players Championship, a week after missing the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship. He returns a month later at The Memorial, where he finishes 19th. His best finish of the season comes at the US Open, where he ties for fourth. Corey Pavin picks Woods for the USA’s unsuccessful 2010 Ryder Cup after Woods ranks 112 in the FedExCup standings.
2011
A ‘minor’ injury in his left knee and Achilles’ tendon causes Woods to withdraw from the Wells Fargo Championship. He returns at The Players Championship, but lasts just nine holes. Woods goes on to miss three months after being diagnosed with a sprain of the MCL ligament in his left knee and a strain to the left Achilles’ tendon. His return is low-key as he ties for 37th at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, then misses his first-ever PGA Championship cut, and fails to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs.
2012
Plays only seven holes of the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship before discomfort in his left Achilles’ tendon forces him to retire. Two weeks later, he wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational and goes on to finish third in the FedExCup.
2013
Tiger fails to tee it up between the US Open and The Open because of a left elbow injury. Woods wins five times that year, including the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
2014
He withdraws from the Honda Classic due to back spasms, and does not play for four months after surgery to correct a pinched nerve in his back. Woods misses the cut at the AT&T National and the PGA Championship, to go with a T69 finish at The Open.
2015
A back injury means Woods withdraws from his second start of the season and doesn’t play until he finishes T17 at The Masters. He goes on to play eight more events, with his best finish at the Wyndham Championship – a share of 10th. In September, he undergoes a second micro-discectomy surgery before another procedure in October.
2016
Woods does not play the entire season due to surgeries in 2015. He confirms he will play the Safeway Open in October, the Turkish Open in November and the Hero World Challenge in December. He withdraws from the first event just three days after signing up and does not play the Turkish Open. Woods eventually returns – the first time he plays competitively for 15 months – and finishes T15 out of 17.
2017
Woods undergoes a fourth back surgery to alleviate back and leg pain. Misses the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in February, before withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic after the first round – he shot 77 – due to back spasms.
