Tiger roars back in dramatic 2018
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2018 15:52:27 +0000
BUNKER SHOT: Tiger Woods plays out of a bunker on the 10th hole during the final round for the 147th British Open Golf championships in Carnoustie, Scotland. Woods considers this his most memorable shot of the year. (AP File)
PARIS (AFP) – Tiger Woods snatched plenty of golfing headlines in 2018 with his remarkable comeback after years in the wilderness and will now be eyeing a 15th major title, while British Open champion Francesco Molinari inspired Europe to a Ryder Cup thrashing of the United States in Paris.
It was an eventful year for golf fans, with Woods’ return adding a sub-plot to the bigger tournaments, even as many of the younger generation confirmed their respective rises to the top of the game.
Justin Thomas’ spectacular eagle on the final hole at the WGC Mexico Championship kicked off the season in style, and although the 25-year-old lost out to veteran Phil Mickelson that day in a play-off, three major titles went to Americans under the age of 30.
Woods, who claimed his first tournament victory since 2013 in front of raucous galleries at the Tour Championship, ended his year with four straight Ryder Cup losses and a defeat by Mickelson in their overly-hyped and ultimately low-quality $9 million match in Las Vegas.
But nothing can take away from the impact the 14-time major winner made on his return after over four years spent battling injuries.
The 42-year-old led on the back nine in the fourth round of the British Open at Carnoustie, and also produced a thrilling charge at the USPGA Championship before ending his title drought in the final individual event of the campaign.
As ever, the former world number one will be bullish about his chances of edging closer to Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 major titles in 2019, but Woods has still not lifted one of golf’s biggest prizes for a decade.
A rise from outside the top 1,000 in the rankings to world number 13 in less than a year was stunning, though, and Woods will have a chance to put a disastrous Ryder Cup performance behind him when he likely doubles up as captain and player at next year’s Presidents Cup in Melbourne.
“I want to compete. I want to play,” he said of the December 2019 matches against Ernie Els’ International side earlier this month.
‘MOLIWOOD’ STAR ON CENTERSTAGE
The pre-Ryder Cup narrative centered around Woods and the Americans’ bid to end a 25-year wait for victory on European soil, but the matchplay showdown ended in a familiar one-sided home win as Molinari teamed up with Tommy Fleetwood to devastating effect in September.
‘Moliwood’ reeled off four straight victories as a partnership, with Thomas Bjorn’s hosts ruthlessly grinding down the US to triumph 17.5-10.5 after losing the opening session, before Molinari capped a golden year by becoming the first European in history to claim a perfect five points.