Tiger Woods amazing return to golf course

Tiger Woods is returning to the sport that made him a global name.

The golf legend, 45, is making his comeback at the PNC Championship alongside son Charlie, 12, just 10 months after a horrific car crash saw him suffer horrendous leg injuries and wheelchair-bound for three months.

It completes a remarkable journey that began in 2019 when he found redemption at the Masters and was victorious against the odds.

And also shows his desire to make a PGA Tour comeback, if his body can hold up to the rigours of first-class golf.

It was only two years ago we were toasting Tiger at a majors again.

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Fans cheered him on at Augusta as he clinched his fifth Masters title and ended an 11-year wait to claim his 15th major.

The victory masked his shattered public image, after numerous affairs were exposed and his marriage to ex-wife Elin Nordegren ended.

While a painkiller addiction because of his troublesome back problems threatened to tarnish his reputation furthermore.

But, as he donned the famous green jacket, he tellingly revealed why he was so determined to complete an astonishing turnaround in his fortunes.

He said: “This game was taken away from me for a few years there. And I miss competing, I miss playing.

“Now I have an opportunity to do that again, and also to be able to share it with my kids.

“They don’t remember me enjoying the game of golf because all they remember is Daddy on the ground in pain.

“And so now golf brings me so much joy, they’re able to see that. And if it brings a smile to their faces, it brings a smile to my own.”

Reminiscing about the moment to American newspaper USA Today, Woods was still bowled over by his achievement a year later.

He explained: “It’s crazy that somehow it all came together for one week, one magical week, and to have so many things go right that week, and that’s what you have to do in order to win an event.

“But to do it there, there’s so many little things that have to go right. I’ve been fortunate enough to have done it four previous times, but last year was just an amazing week.”

Even Tiger’s personal life seemed happy – with girlfriend Erica Herman joining in the celebrations with his sons Charlie and Sam.

She has been a constant on the course next him, since they began dating in 2017, and a positive influence on his golf.

Tiger admitted that the Masters win had taken a lot out of him physically, mentally and emotionally.

But, what he needed for his next chapter, was courage and strength to get through his most testing time.

Back in February, Woods was driving his 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV on a Los Angeles road when it crashed into a tree and began rolling over.

The former world No1 was taken straight to hospital, where it was discovered he suffered significant injuries to his right leg.

He underwent emergency surgery – a rod was inserted to stabilise his tibia and femur bones.

A “combination of screws and pins” were also used to hold together the bones of his foot and ankle that were so badly damaged.

After three months in hospital, from being bed-bound to needing a wheelchair to cart himself around, Woods returned to his Jupiter Island mansion in Florida to recuperate.