All eyes on Tiger Woods at Open, but doubts persist
World number seven has not won a major in six years and has played only one tournament since back surgery in March
Tiger Woods returns to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs at Hoylake this week, as he attempts, in the 143rd British Open, to resurrect a career blighted by injury.
It was at the Royal Liverpool links course in 2006 that Woods won the 12th of his 14 major titles just weeks after the death of his father Earl.
My life is very different than it was then. And then on top of that, this is a different golf course than what we played in ’06
It was a superbly crafted performance as the American tamed a course made fiery and fast by hot, sunny conditions.
He won by two strokes at 18-under par as he continued relentlessly on his lifelong quest to match the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus.
Woods seemed unstoppable, but then, three years later, it all went pear-shaped as years of swing strain on his leg, arm and back muscles made him pay a painful cost for his success and then his marriage broke up after a shameful, public exposure of his marital infidelities.
Coming back to Hoylake for the first time since 2006, the question marks that surround Woods are as pertinent as ever before.