Image Credit: Getty Images

Tiger Woods ends has won his fifth masters title after going 11 years without a major.

After 11 years he’s finally back. Tiger Woods has won his fifth Masters title finishing his 11 year drought, achieving his first green jacket since 2005.

After a rainy day at the Augusta National, there was a short glimpse of light as celebrations around the 18th green exploded when Woods’ final putt fell into the hole. 

The 43-year-old golf legend finished the day with a two-under par score of 70 to finish 13-under par, just one clear of his fellow American competitors. 

Woods entered the final round without even a share of the lead and his victory meant that Francesco Molinari, who was in the lead going into Sunday, finished at 277. Molinari’s chances effectively ended after two double bogeys on the back nine left him sharing fifth place.

Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffle all finished at 12-under par. Each player struggled at some point on the back nine whilst Woods remained consistent. 

History may have been made 22 years ago when Woods became the youngest Masters champion ever, at the age of 21. However, it’s arguable that last Sunday’s win may mean more to him than any other has, after surgery left him thinking he may never be able to perform at the elite level again.

After winning the 2005 US Open, very few people imagined that it would take him 11 years to become a champion again. But after a car crash in 2009, which caused him severe back pains, Woods’ 11 year wait is on par with what is the longest drought ever to be seen in the history of golf. 

“It will be up there with one of the hardest I’ve had to win because of what has transpired in the last couple of years” 

“When I tapped in I don’t know what I did, I know I screamed… To have my kids there, it’s come full circle. My dad was here in 1997 and now I’m the dad with two kids there” 

Sunday’s victory is not just Woods’s fifth Masters and 15th Major title, the day also marked the golfer’s 81st victory on the PGA tour, just one title behind Sam Snead. Woods now has 15 career major titles, only three behind the current all time leader Jack Nicklaus on 18. 

Sunday’s attention was all about one individual and Tiger Woods is back wearing the green jacket. After a chronic injury and multiple publicised personal issues, could this be the greatest career comeback in the history of golf or even arguably the greatest sporting comeback of all-time? Only time will tell, but this was truly a day worth waiting for.