Tiger Woods Back Hitting Balls

On the 23rd of February 2021, the golfing world held its breath, as reports started to emerge of Tiger Woods being involved in a serious road traffic accident. As the news broke, there were fears that the injuries he received in the crash were so severe that he would never be able to play golf again, and if he did, it would not be back at the highest level.

The eleven years between his US Open win at Torrey Pines in 2008 and his historic Masters win in 2019 was a torrid spell for the greatest player of all time as he endured multiple operations on a back that was in such a bad way, it looked like it would end his career. In the last of his surgeries the Doctor fused his spine which allowed Tiger to recapture his form and complete his amazing Augusta triumph. Having him back, healthy and winning, made this latest set-back even harder to take for the millions of worldwide TW fans.

Over the past few weeks rumours started to surface that Tiger was almost ready to return to the golf course again. He had been spotted walking without crutches and his close friend Justin Thomas said that he was confident Tiger would, at some point, return to tournament play. Yesterday afternoon Tiger Woods released some footage of himself hitting balls on the practice ground with a black protective bandage on his right leg. His swing looked smooth, and he didn't look to be in any pain. Almost unbelievebly, it now looks as though we will see him returning to tournament play in 2022. With the determination Tiger has always shown in overcoming setbacks, I would be amazed if he wasn’t ready in time for next year’s U.S. Masters.

When a sport is blessed with a generational talent such as Tiger’s, we need to savour every chance we get of watching a true sporting legend in action.