Tiger in the 2010s: Woods' decade in review

In the midst of an infidelity scandal, Woods opened his year not on the golf course but in a press conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, apologizing for his behavior (pictured). He made his competitive return at the Masters, where he would tie for fourth place. He followed up with another major T-4 at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. But 2010 would prove Woods’ first year without a single worldwide win in his professional career. He parted ways with long-time swing coach Hank Haney and later teamed up with Sean Foley. Woods finalized his divorce from ex-wife Elin Nordegren in August.

It was nearly another winless year for Woods, who broke a two-year drought with a victory at his own event, the Chevron World Challenge, in December (pictured). He birdied the final two holes at Sherwood Country Club to edge Zach Johnson and win for the first time since the 2009 Australian Masters. Earlier in the year, Woods split with longtime caddie Steve Williams. In August at Atlantic Athletic Club, Woods missed the cut at the PGA Championship for the first time in his career. A captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, Woods went 2-3 but did secure the clinching point with a singles victory over Aaron Baddeley.

Woods’ win at Bay Hill in March gave him his seventh Arnold Palmer Invitational title and marked his first PGA Tour victory since the BMW Championship in September 2009. He won two more times in 2012, at the Memorial (pictured) and AT&T National, first tying and then passing Jack Nicklaus with Tour titles Nos. 73 and 74.

It was a five-win campaign for Woods, who won at Torrey, Doral, Bay Hill, Sawgrass and Firestone (pictured). His eighth career Arnold Palmer win returned him to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time since Oct. 2010, as he took the top spot from Rory McIlroy. This was also the year of Woods’ infamous drop on the 15th hole during the second round of the Masters, which saw him avoid disqualification but get hit with a two-shot penalty; he tied for fourth, four shots back. At season’s end, Woods took home his 11th career Player of the Year Award.

The beginning of four-year injury odyssey. Woods withdrew on the 13th green in the final round of the Honda Classic in March, citing lower back spasms. In April, he announced that he would miss the Masters for the first time in his pro career, revealing that he recently underwent surgery for a pinched nerve in his back. After also missing the U.S. Open, Woods would go on to miss the cut at the Quicken Loans National, finish 69th at The Open, withdraw with back pain from the WGC-Bridgestone (pictured) and miss the cut at the PGA. That fall, he would split with Sean Foley and begin work with Chris Como.

Mired in a bout with the chipping yips, Woods posted the worst round of his professional career, an 82, at TPC Scottsdale and followed up with a withdrawal after just 11 holes at Torrey Pines (pictured), famously explaining that he couldn’t keep his glutes activated. He tied for 17th at the Masters but went MC-MC-MC at the other three majors. In a last-ditch bid to make the FedExCup Playoffs, Woods teed it up at Wyndham Championship, where he was tied for the 36-hole lead before finishing tied for 10th. In September, Woods would undergo his second microdiscectomy and a follow-up procedure.

Woods missed the entire 2015-16 PGA Tour season while recovering from back surgery. Unable to compete, he became a U.S. assistant captain for the first time in his career at that year’s Ryder Cup at Hazeltine (pictured). After announcing his hopes to play in October’s Safeway Open and November’s Turkish Airlines Open, he missed both. He finally returned after 15 months away at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Another lost year on the course and a scary one off it. Woods missed the cut at Torrey Pines and then withdrew from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic before the start of his second round (pictured). He missed the Masters for the third time in four years and underwent fusion surgery on his back. In May, Woods was arrested in Jupiter, Florida, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He said alcohol was not involved, and he had “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.” After seeking “professional help” and completing a “private intensive program,” Woods plead guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program. He was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay a $250 fine and court costs. As for golf, he once again served as an U.S. assistant captain, this time at the Presidents Cup, and returned to competition at the Hero — marking the beginning of the comeback.

After four lost years — the comeback. There was the runner-up at the Valspar. The T-5 at Bay Hill and charging before a foul ball at 16. Then the major close calls, the near-triumphs at The Open and PGA. And finally, the walk up at 18 at East Lake. Woods was escorted to the final green via parade by throngs of fans who obliterated the rope line. He closed the 2017-18 PGA Tour season with a win at the Tour Championship, his first victory in five years (pictured). Clearly depleted from the year, the win and the overseas flight, Woods made his return to team play at the Ryder Cup in Paris but went 0-4-0 in a lopsided American loss.

For the first time, Woods won a major coming from behind. Two back to start the final round at the Masters, Woods watched each challenger fall away on his walk down the second nine en route to his 15th major victory and fifth green jacket. It was Woods’ first major triumph in 11 years, since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. After undergoing knee surgery at the end of his season, Woods returned in the fall to tie Sam Snead with his 82nd PGA Tour victory at the Zozo Championship. He closed out the decade as a playing captain at the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, going 3-0-0 as the U.S. rallied back to defeat the Internationals, 16-14.

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Tiger in the ‘10s: Woods’ decade in review

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