Tiger Woods reckons he is now a sentimental crowd favourite because fans can relate to his comeback at the “tail end” of his career.
Former world No.1 Woods will compete in the end-of-season FedEx playoffs for the first time since 2013 when he tees up on Thursday at The Northern Trust event in New Jersey, USA.
He has been in contention on the final days of the Open and the US PGA in recent weeks amid raucous crowd support desperate to see a fairytale 15th Major victory.
And the 42-year-old legend, who was a relentless winning machine at the peak of his career over a decade ago, admitted: “This entire year has been so different.
“I have had excitement and people into it over the years, but this has been so different.
“If you go back to how everyone received me at Tampa (in March). That was very special. I hadn’t received ovations and warmth like that.
“I guess everyone knows I have struggled. I have had been some back pain, had four surgeries and worked my way back. It has been tough. People understand that. I think everyone can relate to that, because they have all been through it. Everyone has aches and pains.
“My fusion surgery was the last-ditch effort to come back. I think that people are more appreciative of it. They know that I am at the tail end of my career.
“I don’t know how more years I have left. I am certainly not like I was at 22. At 42, it is a different ball game.
“People understand that to try and compete against the younger generation in whatever you do, it gets more difficult.
“Do I soak it in more? At times.
“Unfortunately I have got to know a lot of them [the fans] because I have hit a lot of wayward balls! I have signed a lot more gloves than I have in the past.”
Like Woods, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson will need a wildcard to play in the Ryder Cup next month after pulling out of the Northern Trust because of an elbow injury.
Will Tiger Woods ever win another Major?
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