Everyone Loves a Comeback Story
In a feat some are already describing as one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, Tiger Woods won the Masters Sunday, snatching his first major championship win in 11 years.
Woods’s dry years were marred by multiple injuries, four back surgeries, an addiction to painkillers, and a divorce that provided years of tabloid fodder. "After I won my 14th [championship], I felt like I still had plenty more major championships that I could win, but unfortunately I just didn't do it,” Woods told USA Today last week. "I put myself there with chances on the back nine on various Sundays and just haven't done it. You know, hopefully this year, I put myself there again, and hopefully I'll get it done."
This victory marks Woods’s 15th major tournament win, and makes him, at 43 years old, the second-oldest Masters winner ever. He still trails Jack Nicklaus, who win in 1986 at the age of 46. Woods is also the tournament’s youngest winner, earning his first victory in 1997 when he was 21 years old. "It’s come full circle," he said in a post-tournament interview. "My dad was there in ’97, and now I’m the dad with two kids there."
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Naturally, the internet freaked out over the comeback of the year. Even former President Barack Obama tweeted his congratulations.
Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.
- Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 14, 2019
Folks shared the footage of Tiger's touching embrace with his son after his victory, and compared it to the hug he gave his own father after his first Master's win 22 years ago.
Father & son in 2019
Father & son in 1997
Tiger Woods. A legend. (via @TheMasters) pic.twitter.com/nPiwy7W0zK- Complex (@Complex) April 14, 2019
Other social media users were quick to point out that the last time Woods snatched a major win, the world was a very different place.
Last time Tiger Woods won the Masters, Twitter didn’t exist.
- Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) April 14, 2019
The last time Tiger Woods won a green jacket, Barack Obama had been in the U.S. Senate for just two months. #TheMasters
- Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) April 14, 2019
These were the phones we were using the last time Tiger Woods won the Masters. #2005 pic.twitter.com/eDL27aehzC
- Football JC (@jcmcleannfl) April 14, 2019
The No. 1 album in America the last time Tiger Woods won the Masters. pic.twitter.com/mWCHGr0J0S
- Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 14, 2019
The last time Tiger won The Masters is also the last time LeBron missed the playoffs. Wild.
- Boogie Bousins (@bansky) April 14, 2019
And Woods was also congratulated by his highest-profile golfing buddy.
Love people who are great under pressure. What a fantastic life comeback for a really great guy! https://t.co/41MtJtYEjq
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2019
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