It’s fourth round day at the Bellerive Country Club, and Tiger Woods has a five shot lead going into the back nine.
Hold on to that lead and he wins his first PGA Tour event since 2013.
He has undergone four back surgeries since that last victory, one in each year from 2014 to 2017, the last being a spinal fusion surgery that was potentially career-defining.
Woods said that his only priority was to be able to play golf with his kids, and the prospect of playing professionally again, never mind to a high standard, did at one point seem out of the question.
Woods has been on an upward curve ever since, and has gone from outside the top 1000 to being ranked #13 in just under a year.
There were nerves at Bellerive when he fell to only two shots in front of Billy Horschel, his closest rival, going towards the 18th tee.
He managed to score par on the par 5 last hole, and capped off one of golf’s greatest comebacks, gaining a crucial victory in the process ahead of this week’s Ryder Cup, staged in Paris.
His inclusion in the US side adds to arguably the most talented they have for many years, Woods and Phil Mickelson joining Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Masters winner Patrick Reed in the side.
Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and the in-form Bryson DeChambeau are amongst the other team mates.
Europe also look strong, with captain Thomas Bjorn including Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey amongst his captain’s picks.
Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are also involved.
Sam Smith, a member of Penwortham Golf Club, doesn’t think Woods will follow up his Tour Championship success with a good performance in Paris.
“I think it will be difficult as there will be that much pressure on him.
“Woods and Mickelson have a history of not gelling well together and they could struggle to perform in a team.”
He also talked up Europe’s chances, and spoke highly of two of their golfers in particular.
“Europe, in contrast, have a great chance of winning on home turf.
“Ian Poulter always seem to pull something out when he is playing in a team, and Henrik Stenson is a solid player who will contribute heavily.”
Woods will be looking to be part of a Ryder Cup victory for the first time in 19 years, having been part of the USA team that won on home soil in 1999.
He missed the 2008 success whilst recovering from a knee injury, and 2016 due to his ongoing back troubles.
In terms of the odds, as of Monday afternoon SkyBet have USA as slight 10/11 favourites, with Europe at a price of 6/5. The draw is 12/1.
Europe have won four out of the last six meetings between the two, but went down 17-11 to the Americans at Hazeltine two years previous.
Victory was clinched by Ryan Moore, who defeated Lee Westwood on the 18th green to reach 14 1/2 points – neither golfer is taking part in this year’s event, which is set to again be fiercely contested.
The event starts on Friday at 6:30am with the morning foursomes, USA looking to match 2016’s feat of going 4-0 in the opening events.
Five of the eight players who were successful in the foursomes are taking part this year, with Mickelson, Reed, Fowler, Spieth and Dustin Johnson all still prominent in the golfing ranks going into Paris.
Add Rose, Stenson, Poulter and Rory McIlroy to the mix and this is one of the most eagerly anticipated Ryder Cups in years.
RS Sport 