Tiger Woods triumphed in the season-ending TOUR Championship, securing his first win since August 2013.
The 42-year-old California native’s victory was his 80th PGA TOUR title. Only Sam Snead had more, with 82 professional wins on the PGA TOUR under his belt.
Fans of the former world number one rushed to the 18th fairway at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta to watch the much-awaited comeback story unfold.
Woods completed a final round of 71 for an 11-under total, two clear of Billy Horschel, who finished second.
Euphoric disbelief
“I was having a hard time not crying on that last hole,” Woods said.
“I just can’t believe I’ve pulled this off.”
Tiger Woods added: “It was just a grind out there. I loved every bit of it, the fight, the grind and the tough conditions.
“At the beginning of the year, it was a tall order but as the year progressed and I proved I could play, I knew I could do it again.”
Woods’s last victory took place in 2013 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Since then, the 14-time major winner underwent surgery on his back four times.
Although armed with determination and an undying love for the sport, his back injuries kept him on the sidelines for longer than expected.
A well-deserved comeback
“It’s been a tough couple of years,” Tiger Woods admitted. “I’ve worked my way back. I couldn’t have done it without the help of the people around me.
“Some of the other players knew what I was struggling with. It was really special to see them as the green on 18. It’s just hard to believe I won the TOUR Championship,” he added.
The TOUR Championship isn’t the only memorable moment of the 2018 season for Tiger Woods. He led the Open Championship at Carnoustie with eight holes to play and finished runner-up in the PGA Championship at Bellerive.
Fans of the game will see Tiger Woods and the rest of the U.S. team travel to Le Golf National in Paris to compete in the 2018 Ryder Cup Tournament.
See also: The First Tee, Giving Kids Core Values for Life Through Golf