Tiger Woods is injury free and back in contention for golf’s big prizes.
The 14-time major winner returns at the Quicken Loans National this week, but can he end a five-year wait for a title?
We take a look at his year so far…
January
Farmers Insurance Open – T23
Woods began 2018 at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego at Torrey Pines, the course where he won his last major in 2008.
He didn’t have the greatest of starts as he shot 72 on the first day to find himself seven off the lead, but did improve with a 71 in order to make the cut.
Woods showed consistency again over the weekend, but couldn’t break into the 60s as he carded rounds of 70 and 72 to finish on three under, seven shots off eventual winner Jason Day.
Tiger Woods was happy with his fighting qualities at the Farmers Insurance Open
February
Genesis Open – Cut
Woods was back in action just a couple of weeks later at Riviera Country Club, but could never really get going in California.
A 72 in his opening round saw him six shots off the lead and a 76 on the Friday saw him miss the cut altogether.
2:34 A mixed bag from Woods' opening round at the Genesis Open
The Honda Classic – T12
Woods was back in action the following week at the Honda Classic and things worked out a lot better for him.
He started with an even round of 70 and went on to shoot 71, 69 and 70 for his most consistent weekend in years to finish tied for 12th.
It wasn’t vintage Woods by any means but it showed signs that he was getting close to good enough form to be able to win tournaments again.
0:41 A perfect tee shot from Woods knocks a goose off its feet, but he still makes birdie
March
Valspar Championship – T2
A few weeks later Woods would go within touching distance of victory as he finished tied for second at the Valspar Championship.
Woods went into the weekend just two shots off the lead and built on that with a 67 on the Saturday. He fell just short with a final-round 67 to finish level with Patrick Reed, one shot behind winner Paul Casey.
Still, it was a significant result for Woods, who had briefly held the lead early in his round on the Sunday and nailed a fantastic 45-foot putt on the penultimate hole to keep Casey on his toes.
2:21 Action from Woods' best tournament performance since 2013, at the Valspar Championship
Arnold Palmer Invitational – T5
Woods headed to the Arnold Palmer invitational a few days later full of confidence and once again he turned in an excellent display.
He kicked things off with a solid 68 in the opening round to leave himself four shots off leader Henrik Stenson, but slipped away slightly on the Friday with a 72.
Woods then shot back-to-back 69s at the weekend, but it wasn’t enough to keep in contention with the leaders as he finished on 10 under, eight strokes behind winner Rory McIlroy.
2:41 Highlights of Tiger Woods' great start as he bid for a ninth Arnold Palmer Invitational
April
The Masters – T32
Expectations were high as Woods headed to Augusta, as he eyed a first major since 2008 and a first Green Jacket since 2005.
It was the first time in three years he had played the Masters, but his legions of fans were left disappointed as he never really looked in contention. An opening round of 73 left him seven behind the lead and while he made it to the weekend, his 75 on the Friday essentially put him out of the running.
Woods improved at the weekend with a 72 on the Saturday and a 69 on the Sunday, but he finished on one over, an almighty 16 shots behind winner Patrick Reed.
1:35 Woods struggled on day 1 after carding 73 on the opening day at Augusta National
May
Wells Fargo Championship – T55
Woods had nearly a month off before playing the Wells Fargo Championship at the start of May, but the break didn’t help his form as he finished tied for 55th.
Rounds of 71 and 73 saw him make the weekend before improving with a 68 on the Saturday, but he failed to build on that as he shot 74 on the Sunday. He finished on two over, 14 shots behind champion Jason Day.
2:58 A look back at Tiger Woods' struggles during a second-round 73 at the Wells Fargo Championship
The Players Championship – T11
Woods very nearly didn’t make the cut at The Players Championship. Opening rounds of 72 and 71 left him one under at Sawgrass, but some late drama elsewhere saw him sneak in.
He then took full advantage on the Saturday with his most impressive round since returning to the PGA Tour as he fired a 65, making birdies on five of the first seven holes.
Woods headed into the final day in the top 10, but couldn’t replicate his Saturday form as he shot 69 to end up tied for 11th on 11 under, seven shots behind champion Webb Simpson.
3:35 Tiger Woods reviews his lowest round at the 2018 Players Championship which included eight birdies
June
The Memorial Tournament – T23
Woods couldn’t replicate his form a few weeks later at Muirfield Village as he failed to make it into the top 20.
Decent rounds of 67 and 68 on the middle two days were outweighed by 72s on either side as he could only finish nine under, six off the winner Bryson DeChambeau.
2:21 Woods lights up The Memorial with a vintage hole-out for eagle that had the fans in raptures
US Open – Cut
Hopes were high again as Woods headed to the second major of the year at Shinnecock Hills, but he got off to a disastrous start from which he couldn’t recover.
He needed five shots just to get his ball on the putting surface at the opening hole and ran up a triple-bogey seven, while back-to-back double-bogeys – including a four-putt at the 13th – soured his mood further.
His opening-round 78 was followed up by a 72 on the Friday as he missed his fourth cut in his last seven major appearances.
3:21 Highlights as Woods makes too many mistakes to survive the halfway cut at the US Open
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