Tiger pounces back

Tiger Woods made a comeback April 14 capturing his fifth Masters title and his 15th major tournament launching him back to the top of the sports world.

In recent years, the 43-year-old has struggled personally and professionally amid a series of injuries and personal scandals, including a high-profile divorce and a DUI arrest. Within the past 23 years, Woods has undergone 18 procedures including tumor and cyst removals from his knees as well as numerous procedures on his neck, shoulder and back. However, Woods pushed forward and despite a rocky past couple years, professionally, his dedication to golf was rewarded.

“I can’t thank my family, friends and fans enough for their support,” tweeted Woods after the big win. “Having my family by my side today is something I will never forget. To not only be able to play again, but to be able to win again, is something I will forever be grateful for.”

Woods will join a long line of accomplished athletes when he receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump. This award is the United States’ highest civilian honor and recognizes people who have made significant contributions to national interests, world peace and public or private endeavors. Trump tweeted throughout the entire tournament and is seemingly ecstatic to award Woods with the medal.

“Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM!” Trump wrote.

The esteemed golfer is just one win away from equaling Sam Snead's record haul of PGA Tour wins as well as being one victory away from tying Jack Nicklaus' Masters Record. Snead, one of the top players in the world for the better part of four decades, won a total of 82 PGA Tour victories; he has held the record since 1965. Nicklaus, a retired American professional golfer and regarded by many as the greatest golfer of all time, won a total of 18 Masters. Despite being older, Woods is confident in his ability to beat their records.

"I've still got, I feel like, a chance to play some more golf and maybe I'll keep chipping away at that number and maybe surpass it," Woods said of the records to Golf Digest. "But I just think that what I've gone through and what I've dealt with, I've gotten lucky, to be honest with you. I've gotten very lucky. I'm not playing a full contact sport or I've got to move people around in that regard. At 43 years old with a fused lower spine, that's not going to happen. But in this sport, it can. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to have the people around me to have supported me and worked through this process with me, and I've ground out a chance to win golf tournaments again."