WATCH: Tiger Woods explains motivation, shares emotion following 24th Masters finish
Tiger Woods stunned the sports world and not only showed up out of nowhere to compete in the PGA’s biggest event, he made it to Sunday and completed his 24th Masters Tournament.
In the broadcast after his finish, CBS reporter Amanda Balonis Renner caught up with Woods to ask about the difficulties and emotions after finishing his first major event despite so much adversity yet once again.
“I had the same questions, so it was an unbelievable feeling, just to have the patrons and support out there, I wasn’t exactly playing my best out there, but just to have the support out there and the appreciation,” Woods said.
“I don’t think words can really describe that — given where I was — a little over a year ago. And what my prospects were at that that time? To end up here, and play all four rounds? Even a month ago I didn’t know if I could pull this off, so, I think it was positive.
I got some work to do and am looking forward to it.”
Tiger Woods was then asked about his internal drive and constant ability to defy the odds, bounce back from adversity and push through to compete in major events despite injuries and setbacks.
“It’s hard, it’s hard,” Woods added.
“I have those days where I just don’t want to do anything, and it hurts. But as I alluded earlier, I have a great team around me that’s super positive and has helped me around. And, the days that are tough, I need that. The days I do good, those are easy days, but there are more tough days than easy days. I think the hard part are those recovery sessions, those do really suck.
Just to have the support around me, I couldn’t have done it without them”
More on Tiger Woods returning for the Masters
In February of 2021, Woods suffered severe leg injuries in a car accident, and he was forced to undergo major surgery to repair his injuries. His future playing golf was immediately put into doubt, but he has come back. Woods first returned for the PNC Championship in December of 2021.
The comeback for Tiger Woods is an impressive one, and him making the cut is an incredible storyline. He has won 15 major championships over the course of his Hall of Fame golfing career, including five at the Masters. The first win for Woods at the Masters came in 1997, and he also picked up victories in Augusta in 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2009. Woods hasn’t won a major championship since the Masters in 2019, and that is his only major title since winning the U.S. Open in 2008.
Woods came into the weekend believing that he can win the Masters, and he will need a big final two rounds to make that a possibility. It might be tough to overcome the large deficit between him and Scheffler, but Woods is at least proving that he’s able to stay in contention in his comeback.