ALBANY, Bahamas – Not that long ago the only use of a golf club for Tiger Woods was as a crutch to get out of bed. Now the two-time FedExCup champion is confident his latest comeback will not be like the others because this time he’s pain free as he gears up to play at the Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas. Returning to competitive golf for the first time since February after spinal fusion surgery – the fourth back surgery since March 2014 – Woods believes this time is different. The 79-time PGA TOUR winner has played just 19 official events since 2014 and can’t confirm how many he may play in the future – but he’s excited none-the-less to test himself against the elite 18-man field. A year ago everyone left the Bahamas optimistic after Woods made as many birdies as winner Hideki Matsuyama (he finished 15th) only to see things fall apart in his next start at The Farmers Insurance Open. At Torrey Pines he was stiff and wooden on the way to missing the cut and then withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic the following week before going in for surgery. “This is very different because last year I was still struggling with a little bit of pain and I was able to hit some good shots, able to play, but in looking back on it now, I look on it as playing in slow mo,â€� Woods said Tuesday. “I didn’t realize how bad my back had become and how much I was flinching and just how slow I was. I didn’t realize it because it’s been a slow degrading process. “I thought I had some speed, thought I was playing halfway decent, shot some good scores, but now I’ve looked back on it and man, I didn’t even have much at all.â€� Woods says now the only issue he has is the odd bit of stiffness but given his back is fused that is no surprise. He’s “winging itâ€� as he learns just how hard he can swing and just what recovery he will need after competitive rounds and tournaments. Most people have the fusion surgery in their late 50’s. Woods is 41. “I’ll have a better understanding once I’m in game speed. I know I’ve always hit it harder come game time because of adrenaline and I’m looking forward to it and I’m also looking forward to see how I feel,â€� he says. The famous Woods smile was back as he thought about the possibility of competing with the new breed on TOUR. His last win came in 2013 when the likes of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were not really on the radar. Now they have joined him as major winners and FedExCup champs. Last year the under 25 brigade dominated the TOUR. They mostly know Woods via what they watched on television growing up plus clips from YouTube and video games, not the heat of battle. “In an ideal world, I would like to have them feel what some of my past guys had to go against all those years. I’d like to have them feel that same play,â€� Woods smiled. “When I turned pro, I think Jordan was still in diapers, right. “But I’m just looking forward to getting through these four rounds and having an understanding, a better understanding of where I’m at. I don’t know where I’m at. I don’t know how hard I can hit it, what shots can I play. “I don’t know what the future entails in that regard because I’m still learning this body. I just really want to be able to complete this week, play all four days and give myself a chance on that back nine on Sunday to win this thing.â€� Just what Woods will be able to achieve over the next few years is yet to be seen. He clearly is on the back nine of his career. But anything of note from this point on should be seen as gravy on a legendary career. “This surgery was about quality of life because I didn’t really have much. I’ve been in bed for about two years and people ask me, why don’t you go out to dinner? I can’t, I can’t sit,â€� the 14-time major winner revealed. “So to be able to have the ability to go out and do things like that, and on top of that to be able to participate in my kids’ sports again… I’ve missed it.â€� With his daughter Sam, now 10, and son Charlie, now eight, Woods is also driven by the fact they’ve not seen him at his best. He would like for them to know their dad outside of the YouTube realm. And while they won’t be in Albany this week… if things go well there might come a day where a young Woods gets to carry the bag for dad somewhere, perhaps Augusta National like Jack Nicklaus’ son famously did for the 1986 victory. “I want them to see what I’ve been able to do my entire career. I’ve been fortunate enough to play tournament golf for 37 years and I want them to experience some of that, have a better understanding of it,â€� he said. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be playing but I want them to come to a few events, I want them to feel it, I want them to understand it a little bit more.â€� Not that long ago it appeared this day might never come again. It appeared it could all be over. But despite some really rough days Woods always thought he would be back. “I always thought that I was tough mentally,â€� Woods said. “My dad always thought so as well. Going through all this just reaffirmed that.â€�
Woods ready to rumble at Hero
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3rd Round 2-Balls – C.T. Pan / J. Bramlett | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
C T Pan | -120 |
Joseph Bramlett | +100 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – C. Reavie / K. Yu | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Yu | -155 |
Chez Reavie | +130 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Scott vs A. Svensson | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Scott | -110 |
Adam Svensson | -110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Svensson / G. Woodland | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Svensson | -145 |
Gary Woodland | +120 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – D. Hearn / B. Hossler | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Beau Hossler | -300 |
David Hearn | +240 |
3rd Round Match-Up – M. McNealy v S. Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Shane Lowry | -115 |
Maverick McNealy | -105 |
3rd Round Score – Shane Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 68.5 | -150 |
Under 68.5 | +110 |
3rd Round Score – Rory McIlroy | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 67.5 | -165 |
Under 67.5 | +120 |
3rd Round Score – Tom Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | +120 |
Under 69.5 | -165 |
3rd Round Score – Akshay Bhatia | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | +110 |
Under 69.5 | -150 |
3rd Round Score – Tommy Fleetwood | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 68.5 | -125 |
Under 68.5 | -110 |
3rd Round Score – Stewart Cink | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 70.5 | -165 |
Under 70.5 | +120 |
3rd Round Score – Thorbjorn Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | -140 |
Under 69.5 | +100 |
3rd Round Score – Keith Mitchell | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | +100 |
Under 69.5 | -140 |
3rd Round Score – Corey Conners | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 68.5 | -140 |
Under 68.5 | +100 |
3rd Round Score – Ben Griffin | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 70.5 | +110 |
Under 70.5 | -150 |
3rd Round Score – Sam Burns | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | +120 |
Under 69.5 | -165 |
3rd Round Score – Mackenzie Hughes | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | +120 |
Under 69.5 | -165 |
3rd Round Score – Robert MacIntyre | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | -140 |
Under 69.5 | +100 |
3rd Round Score – Ryan Fox | |
Type: 3rd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 69.5 | -140 |
Under 69.5 | +100 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – S. Lowry / N. Lashley | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Shane Lowry | -185 |
Nate Lashley | +150 |
3rd Round Match-Up – V. Norrman vs M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -120 |
Vincent Norrman | +100 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – H. Hall / M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -125 |
Harry Hall | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – C. Hadley / K. Kraft | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chesson Hadley | -130 |
Kelly Kraft | +110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – J. Vegas / A. Dumont De Chassart | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jhonattan Vegas | -125 |
Adrien Dumont de Chassart | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Scott / M. McNealy | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -125 |
Adam Scott | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – M. Creighton / M. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Michael Kim | -160 |
Myles Creighton | +135 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – E. Barnes / C. Phillips | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chandler Phillips | -135 |
Erik Barnes | +115 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – Y. Yoshida / A. Valenzuela | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Albane Valenzuela | -110 |
Yuri Yoshida | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – L. Griffin / B. Silverman | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | -125 |
Lanto Griffin | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Furue / N. Hataoka | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nasa Hataoka | +100 |
Ayaka Furue | +110 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – B. Wu / K. Streelman | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brandon Wu | -110 |
Kevin Streelman | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – T. Kim vs T. Pendrith | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Kim | -120 |
Taylor Pendrith | +100 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – T. Pendrith / V. Norrman | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Pendrith | -150 |
Vincent Norrman | +125 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – M. Yamashita / M.B. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Miyuu Yamashita | -150 |
Min Byeol Kim | +165 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Furyk / M. Wright / J. Sluman | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Michael Wright | +120 |
Jim Furyk | +200 |
Jeff Sluman | +225 |
3rd Round Match-Up – R. McIlroy vs T. Fleetwood | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy | -155 |
Tommy Fleetwood | +130 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – T. Kim / R. McIIroy | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy | -170 |
Tom Kim | +140 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – D. Kang / R. Takeda | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Rio Takeda | -130 |
Danielle Kang | +145 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – D. Duval / R. Goosen / S. Alker | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Steven Alker | -170 |
Retief Goosen | +180 |
David Duval | +800 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – V. Perez / M. Hubbard | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mark Hubbard | -135 |
Victor Perez | +115 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – J.E. Shadoff / Y. Kawamoto | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Yui Kawamoto | -105 |
Jodi Ewart Shadoff | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Percy / C. Campbell / K. Tanigawa | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Percy | +115 |
Chad Campbell | +180 |
Ken Tanigawa | +270 |
3rd Round Match-Up – R. Hisatsune vs A. Bhatia | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | -120 |
Ryo Hisatsune | +100 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – J. Campillo / R. Hisatsune | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryo Hisatsune | -130 |
Jorge Campillo | +110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Suzuki / C. Park | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ai Suzuki | -145 |
Catherine Park | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
US Women’s Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Minjee Lee | +425 |
Wichanee Meechai | +425 |
Andrea Lee | +475 |
Yuka Saso | +550 |
Jin Hee Im | +2000 |
Ayaka Furue | +2200 |
Chisato Iwai | +2500 |
Sakura Koiwai | +3000 |
Miyuu Yamashita | +3500 |
Nasa Hataoka | +3500 |
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2nd Round 3-Balls – H. Slocum / R. Labritz / K. Sutherland | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Sutherland | -110 |
Heath Slocum | +240 |
Rob Labritz | +275 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – C. Iwai / S. Koiwai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chisato Iwai | +100 |
Sakura Koiwai | +110 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Bhatia / T. Duncan | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | -165 |
Tyler Duncan | +140 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – V. Singh / R. Pampling / B. Mayfair | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Vijay Singh | +130 |
Rod Pampling | +160 |
Billy Mayfair | +260 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – R. Palmer / C. Ramey | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chad Ramey | -125 |
Ryan Palmer | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – M. Schofill / H. Shibuno | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Hinako Shibuno | -135 |
Megan Schofill | +145 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – E. Els / S. Ames / R. Gonzalez | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ernie Els | +125 |
Stephen Ames | +145 |
Ricardo Gonzalez | +320 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – V. Whaley / G. Higgo | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Vince Whaley | -135 |
Garrick Higgo | +115 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – M.H. Lee / J.H. Im | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jin Hee Im | -125 |
Mi Hyang Lee | +140 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round Match-Up – N. Hojgaard vs T. Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nicolai Hojgaard | -110 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – S. Valimaki / N. Hojgaard | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nicolai Hojgaard | -125 |
Sami Valimaki | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – W.L. Hsu / A. Talley | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Wei Ling Hsu | -140 |
Asterisk Talley | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – R. Moore / J. Bridgeman | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | -110 |
Ryan Moore | -110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – Y. Saso / M. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Minjee Lee | -115 |
Yuka Saso | +125 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – T. Fleetwood / C. Young | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tommy Fleetwood | -185 |
Carson Young | +150 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Lee / W. Meechai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrea Lee | -135 |
Wichanee Meechai | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Rai vs E. Van Rooyen | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Erik Van Rooyen | -105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – A. Rai / K. Tway | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -150 |
Kevin Tway | +125 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – Pi. Coody / W. Bateman | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Pierceson Coody | -120 |
Will Bateman | +100 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – S. Cink / T. Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -130 |
Stewart Cink | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – C. Conners vs K. Mitchell | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Corey Conners | -125 |
Keith Mitchell | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – E. Van Rooyen / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -125 |
Erik Van Rooyen | +105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – S. Stevens / C. Conners | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Corey Conners | -170 |
Sam Stevens | +145 |
3rd Round Match-Up – J. Dahmen vs B. Griffin | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Griffin | -130 |
Joel Dahmen | +110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – B. Griffin / Z. Blair | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Griffin | -160 |
Zac Blair | +135 |
3rd Round Match-Up – M. Hughes vs S. Burns | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Burns | -115 |
Mackenzie Hughes | -105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – S. Burns / N. Hardy | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Burns | -165 |
Nick Hardy | +140 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Novak vs T. Crowe | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | -120 |
Trace Crowe | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Up – S. O’Hair vs D. Skinns | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
David Skinns | -110 |
Sean O’Hair | -110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – T. Crowe / S. O’Hair | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Trace Crowe | -130 |
Sean O’Hair | +110 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – M. Hughes / D. Skinns | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | -195 |
David Skinns | +160 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – J. Dahmen / A. Novak | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | -115 |
Joel Dahmen | -105 |
3rd Round 2-Balls – R. MacIntyre / R. Fox | |
Type: 3rd Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Fox | -120 |
Robert MacIntyre | +100 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +400 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Xander Schauffele | +1200 |
Viktor Hovland | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +1800 |
Jon Rahm | +1800 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +3000 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Xander Schauffele | +1400 |
Jon Rahm | +1600 |
Viktor Hovland | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
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Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |