2018 featured player: Tiger Woods

For golf fans around the world, Tiger Woods’ return to the golf course brought a new level of excitement and anticipation as he hit the links for the first time at last year’s Hero World Challenge. Little did they know, he was going to provide them an action-packed season.

Woods secured seven top-10 finishes this year, including second place at the PGA Championship and first place at the TOUR Championship.

Woods’ last round of a 64 at the 2018 PGA Championship was his best score in a Major throughout his respected career. After a 19-foot birdie putt on the last hole, he let out a huge celebratory fist pump. Although he wasn’t going to claim the trophy, he knew he was back in the game after a long road to recovery.

Shortly after, Woods recorded his 80th PGA TOUR career victory, finishing the season-ending tournament with a final round of 1-over-par 71 and a two-shot lead. Thousands of fans gathered, chanting and cheering as he held his 80th PGA TOUR trophy at the 2018 TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I appreciate it a little bit more than I did because I don’t take it for granted that I’m going to have another decade or two decades in my future of playing golf at this level,” Woods said, “It means a lot more to me now in that sense because I didn’t know if I’d ever be out here playing again, doing this again.’’

Woods has changed the face of golf, winning a near-record 14 major championships. Since the inception of the Hero World Challenge in 1998, Woods holds the most Hero World Challenge victories at five, and will be looking to add another win this year at Albany.

Did you know: In addition to his 80 PGA TOUR victories, Tiger is the tournament host and a five-time winner of the Hero World Challenge, an event he and his father Earl established in 1998 to benefit his foundation.