Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 2 November 2017
Tiger’s return of Dustin Johnson, Jordan Woods has built up an
enormous mystique from
Spieth, Justin Thomas and
Brooks Koepka the way he the previous 18 years that
Continued from orevious Page
once ruled his sport? The produced 79 victories on
Woods made 24 birdies numbers suggest other- the PGA Tour.
that week but finished at wise. Thomas won five times last
4-under par and was 14 Woods turns 42 at the end season. Spieth and Jason
shots behind the winner, of the year and he has Day each won five times
Hideki Matsuyama. gone through eight surger- in 2015. Woods had 11
He was held to a different ies — four on his left knee, seasons with at least that
standard. He was mea- four on his back. many victories, and he
sured by the freedom of his Can he win again? had six years when he won
swing more than his score It would be foolish to de- seven times or more.
in relation to the field. That clare that he can’t by “Imagine combining the
began to change when measuring Woods against year Jordan had, the year
he missed the cut at Torrey the entirety of the PGA Jason had, the year Justin
Pines in his first start against In this Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 file photo, Tiger Woods watches his Tour. had. That was Tiger Woods
a full field, and then flew tee shot on the ninth hole of the North Course during the second Woods announced he will for my whole junior ca-
across eight time zones round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey play the Hero World Chal- reer,” Koepka said.
to Dubai and lasted one Pines Golf Course in San Diego. lenge on the week that That’s what people re-
round — a 77 — before Associated Press Rod Pampling defends his member.
withdrawing the next day “Yeah, definitely,” he re- Woods hitting driver, a third title in Las Vegas. Pam- That’s why his fifth come-
because of back spasms. sponded. “I don’t know video hitting a stinger with pling, once a frequent back since 2014 still reso-
Different about this return what my future holds for a long iron, and news amid practice round partner of nates with hope.
is the nature of the surgery, me. As I’ve told you guys, this tease that doctors had Woods at the majors, is one The PGA Tour celebrated
which carried a higher risk I’m hitting 60-yard shots.” cleared him to play and of the shorter hitters and the announcement of
and was geared more to- It was a leading question practice without restric- won last year at age 47. Woods’ return on Tuesday
ward his quality of life. that was more about the tions. Koepka was the runner-up. with a tweet that said, “The
Golf is a bonus. uncertainty of his health So what next? Pat Perez is 41 and doesn’t fist pump is back.” For now,
Woods made headlines at than his desire to play, For one holiday tourna- overpower courses. He has the only fist pump belongs
the Presidents Cup during and the outlook changed ment, at least, Woods will won twice in the last two to those who are eager to
a news conference for as- quickly. be taking on a short field years and now is No. 18 in see him play because they
sistant captains when he Within a week, he posted a that is long on power and the world. were not sure they would
was asked if he could see slow-motion video of a full talent. Even without winning over get that chance again.
a scenario where he would swing. Does anyone really think the last four years while suf- How long that lasts de-
not return to competition. Then another one of he can dominate the likes fering from back problems, pends on Woods.q