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Newsmaker of the Year: No. 3, Tiger Woods

After returning to competition at the Hero World Challenge in December 2016, Woods started the new year with an ambitious slate of tournament starts as he eyed his first full season since 2013. But he made it only three rounds, looking rusty en route to a missed cut at Torrey Pines before withdrawing abruptly in Dubai.

The “spasms” that led to that withdrawal turned out to be something far more serious, as Woods underwent his fourth and most invasive back surgery in April, a lumbar fusion. It brought with it an extensive rehabilitation, and at the Presidents Cup in September Woods humored the prospect that he might never again play competitive golf.

At Liberty National he also faced some scrutiny for an off-course incident from months prior. In May he was arrested for suspicion of DUI, an incident that produced a startling roadside video of an intoxicated Woods struggling to follow instructions from the arresting officer after driving erratically.


Full list of 2017 Newsmakers of the Year


While he was not drinking at the time, Woods was found to have a mix of several prescription medications in his system, including multiple painkillers. He checked himself into a private drug treatment program in July to address his dependency issues, and in October he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving.

But the incident was barely a memory when Woods again made a return to competition in the Bahamas at the tournament he hosts. This time around he exceeded nearly every expectation, twice shooting 4-under 68 while tying for ninth among the 18-man field. Having re-tooled his swing following fusion surgery, Woods appeared relaxed, happy and healthy while briefly taking the lead during the tournament’s second round.

What lies ahead for Woods in 2018 remains uncertain, as the stop-and-start nature of this past season serves as a cautionary tale. But after a harrowing arrest and another serious surgery, he seems once again focused on his game, intent on chasing down a new crop of elite talent, some of whom are barely more than half his age.

Woods’ initial comeback short-lived, leads to another back surgery

http://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/woods-undergoes-fourth-back-surgery/http://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/woods-undergoes-fourth-back-surgery/Article: Woods undergoes “successful” fourth back surgery

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Article: Woods (back spasm) withdraws from Dubai

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Article: Players disappointed Woods withdraws from Dubai

Really, again: Tiger undergoes fourth back surgery

Begay on Tiger: Future is ‘extremely uncertain’


Woods arrested for DUI, enters diversion program after getting “professional help”

http://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/woods-undergoes-fourth-back-surgery/Article: Woods arrested for DUI in May

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Article: Police say Woods had 5 drugs in system when arrested

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Article: DUI affidavit states Tiger asleep in parked car

Dashcam video released of Tiger’s DUI arrest

Begay, Rolfing: Tiger’s arrest needs to be wakeup call

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Photos: Tiger Woods’ car during DUI arrest

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Photos: Tiger Woods in court for DUI hearing

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Article: Tiger gets ‘professional help’ for prescription meds

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Article: Woods pleads in court guilty to reckless driving


Woods goes from unsure of his pro golf future to resuming full golf activities

http://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/report-woods-cleared-full-golf-activity/Article: Doctor clears Woods for full golf activity six months after back surgery

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Article: Tiger doesn’t know what future holds

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Article: Woods back to making full swings

Woods admits he might never return to competition

Making progress: Breaking down Tiger’s driver swing


Woods returns to competition for first time since February at Hero World Challenge

http://www.golfchannel.com/article/rex-hoggard/hero-comeback-success-healthy-woodsArticle: Hero comeback a success for healthy Woods

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Article: Woods discusses his back: ‘No issues at all, none’

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Tiger Tracker: Woods finished T-9 in return to competition

Chamblee: ‘I was wrong’ about some of my Woods skepticism

Tiger, if you were hurting, would you tell us? ‘Yeah, I’d tell you’


Woods out and about in 2017

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Article: Video, images of Tiger’s round with Trump

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Article: Woods posts photo as ‘Mac Daddy Santa’

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Article: Tiger at U.S. Open sitting in Nadal’s box

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Article: Shirtless Tiger holds up a massive lobster