By Patrick Whalen

5 years, 1,876 days, 4 back surgeries later and Tiger Woods is finally back in the winner’s circle. Finishing the weekend at -11 winning by 2 shots over Billy Horschel and Tiger was finally able to capture PGA tour win number 80 and how appropriate for it to be at the Tour Championship. Tiger started the day in the final group for the third consecutive day as this time he teed it up with world number 6 Rory McIlroy. Tiger entered the day at -12 with a three-shot lead over Rory and Justin Rose who both entered at -9. Rory ended up at -5 at the end of the day after shooting a +4 74 mostly because of his struggles off the tee hitting only 21% of his fairways today which led to 3 bogeys and 1 double bogey on the front 9.

Rose would finish tied for fourth finishing at -6 after shooting +3 73. Rose also struggled off the tee hitting 29% of his fairways which lead to 5 bogeys on the day. But despite not winning the tournament Rose still had a great day. After claiming the world number 1 ranking last week at the BMW Championship, where he lost to Keegan Bradley in a playoff, Rose needed a birdie or better at 18 to claim the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus. He ended up almost sinking his 30-foot eagle putt and left himself a tap-in for $10 million.

For most of the day, it seemed like Tiger had it all in control maintaining a 4 or 5 shot lead for most of the afternoon. But late in the day, Billy Horschel made a charge on the back 9 birdieing 3 of his last 7 holes to shoot -4 on the day and finish in solo second at -9. Tiger had a 4 shot lead over Horschel going into 15 but then bogeyed 15 and 16 trimming his lead to just 2 shots with 2 holes to play. Tiger then pulled his tee shot on 17 into the left rough and it started to look a little shakey if he could seal the deal. He then flew his second over the green and needed an up and down for par. People wondered did Tiger still have that clutch gene to close out tournaments and then he chipped it to 3 and a half feet, leaving himself a testy but makeable downhill putt and he drained it. He went to the par 5 18th with a 2 shot lead looking to seal the deal. He stepped up to the tee on 18 and piped a drive 347 yards right down the middle. His second shot came up just short of the green landing in the bunker. But Tiger blasted it out to 15 feet and then snuggled it up close to leave himself a tap in to seal up his 80th career PGA tour win. This was also Tigers 3rd career Tour Championship win and 2nd at East Lake. He ended the day finishing -11 shooting a +1 71 but it didn’t matter it was enough he finally did it, and almost a year after he was cleared by doctors to start chipping.

It is honestly one of the greatest comeback stories in sports. 4 separate back surgeries and trying to remake his swing over those 5 years. Some wondering not if he’d ever win again or compete again but rather if he’d ever play again. A year and a half removed from his spinal fusion surgery and here we are. The Tour Champion and finishing 2nd in the FedEx Cup, not to mention a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup. Not matter if you hate him or love him you can’t argue that Tiger is back and can win on tour and that its better for golf when he is playing well. The crowds today were absolutely electric, almost 4 or 5 rows deep and then seeing the fans run up the fairway behind Tiger and surround the green was something surreal reminding people of the days of old when Tiger was in his prime. This win may have completed the comeback but it surely won’t be the last.