Page 22 - AT

A22 SPORTS
Friday 27 december 2019

Woods' comeback at Masters named AP Sports Story of the Year

By EDDIE PELLS tory in 2008 and the start
AP National Writer of 2019, it was clear that if
A green jacket. A heart- there was a single course
melting embrace. A stirring where Woods could con-
return to the top of golf by jure the old magic and
one of the sport's all-time end a major drought, it
greats. would be Augusta Nation-
In choosing Tiger Woods' al. As a four-time cham-
victory at the Masters as pion, Woods built a career
The Associated Press sports on studying every inch of
story of the year, voters the layout, knowing every
went with the uplifting es- fault line and every sneaky
cape of a great comeback twist and turn of the slickest
over options that were as greens on earth.
much about sports as the But where, at one time, he
issues that enveloped them might have overpowered
in 2019: politics, money and the course and intimidated
the growing push for equal the competition, in 2019, he
pay and equal rights for simply outlasted them both.
women. He avoided mistakes while
The balloters, a mix of AP everyone else was mak-
member sports editors and In this April 14, 2019 file photo, Tiger Woods reacts as he wins the Masters golf tournament in Au- ing them. Instead of tak-
AP beat writers, elevated gusta, Ga. ing a lead into the last day,
Woods' rousing victory at Associated Press then never giving anyone
Augusta National over the a whiff of hope, this was a
runner-up entry: the U.S. between the lines. saga — namely, the sordid, somehow kept nurturing comeback. He started the
women's soccer team's vic- All the rest — including the pain-riddled, decadelong his love for golf. And even- day two shots behind.
tory at the World Cup. That blown call that cost the prelude to his victory at tually, he found his game As AP Golf Writer Doug Fer-
monthlong competition Saints a chance at the Su- Augusta National in April — again. He climbed his way guson wrote in his wrapup
was punctuated by star per Bowl, a California law would fit into that catego- back to the top. He had of the final day: "Woods
Megan Rapinoe's push for that threatens to upend ry, as well. close calls at two majors never missed a shot that
pay equality for the wom- the NCAA and Simone Biles' His downfall began in the in 2018 — the British Open mattered over the final sev-
en's team and an ongoing dominance at gymnastics' wee hours the day after and PGA Championship — en holes, taking the lead
war of words with President world championships, set Thanksgiving in 2009, when and then won the season- with a 5-iron to the fat of
Donald Trump. against the backdrop of he ran over a fire hydrant ending Tour Championship, the green on the par-5 15th
Rapinoe's efforts to use the sex-abuse crisis con- outside his house in Florida, as good a sign as any that, for a two-putt birdie, deliv-
sports as a platform to suming the sport in the U.S. triggering an avalanche of at 43, he could take on the ering the knockout with an
discuss bigger issues was — were long-running sagas stories about infidelity that best and win. 8-iron that rode down the
hardly a one-off in 2019. that went beyond a single would lead to the breakup But regular tournaments ridge by the cup and set-
Of the top 12 stories in the day or event. They painted of his marriage and play are not the majors, and no tled 2 feet away for birdie
balloting, only three — titles sports not as an escape into the near-destruction of major is the Masters. on the par-3 16th."
won by the Toronto Rap- from the world's problems his career. It was on those hallowed When it was over, Woods
tors, Washington Nationals but merely another win- Part 2 was the injuries. grounds at Augusta Na- came to the same spot
and University of Virginia dow into them. Woods came close but did tional where Woods set where he'd met Earl 22
basketball team — stuck It's no stretch to say that not return to his dominant the marker, starting a de- years before. He scooped
mainly to what happened the whole of the Woods form after his return to golf cade of dominance that up his son, Charlie, and
following his breakup with would redefine the game. held him in a long em-
his wife. And as time went He blew away the field by brace, then did the same
WNBA, players' on, his physical condition 12 strokes in 1997 to win the with his 11-year-old daugh-
deteriorated. He didn't play first of what has become ter, Sam, and mother, Tilda.
union says new labor in 2016 or 2017, and at the five green jackets and 15 "For them to see what it's
like to have their dad win
end of '17, he conceded major titles.
his back was so bad that On that day, Woods came a major championship, I
agreement is close his days of competitive golf off the 18th green and hope that's something they
wrapped himself in a warm will never forget," Woods
might be behind him.
There were four risky back embrace with his father, said. Very few golf fans will.
NEW YORK (AP) — The the two sides extended surgeries. Woods also re- Earl, whose death in 2006 And in a sports year domi-
WNBA and the players' the deadline to Dec 31. quired a good deal of inner left an undeniable void in nated by weightier top-
union announced Thursday "We are making substantial healing after a mortifying the player's life. ics, Woods at the Masters
that they have agreed to progress toward a new col- DUI arrest in 2017 that ex- Though there had been a stood out — a comeback
extend their labor agree- lective bargaining agree- posed his reliance on pain- handful of close calls be- story that left people smil-
ment for two weeks as they ment which we expect to killers. Through it all, Woods tween his U.S. Open vic- ing at the end.q
continue to negotiate a finalize soon," the WNBA
new one. and players' union said in
The current collective bar- a joint statement Thurs-
gaining agreement was day. "In the meantime, we
reached in 2014. It was have extended the current
supposed to run through agreement through Jan.
the 2021 season, but the 15, 2020, and expect that
players decided to opt free agency contract sign-
out of the deal after the ings will begin on time on
2019 season. In October, Feb. 1, 2020."q