TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

After barely being able to walk, scandals and the mental anguish of having his life turned upside down, Tiger Woods completed one of the greatest comebacks in sports history by winning his first Masters tournament since 2005.

“Unreal, to be honest with you. You know, just the whole tournament has meant so much to me over the years. Coming here in ’95 for the first time, to be able to play as an amateur, winning in ’97 and then coming full circle 22 years later to be able to do it again,” said Woods on the feeling of winning his first major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open.

It is a miracle that Woods is even able to still play golf, let alone regain his position atop the golf and sports world after eight major surgeries (four knee, four back). The 2013 Barclays golf tournament saw Woods drop to his knees due to severe pain after a powerful swing.

Two years ago, Woods was having trouble walking.

“I had serious doubts after what transpired a couple years ago. I could barely walk, I couldn’t sit, couldn’t lay down, I really couldn’t do much of anything,” Woods said in the Masters press conference.

“Luckily I had the procedure on my back which gave me a chance at having a normal life, but then all of the sudden I realized that I could actually swing a golf club again. I felt that if I could somehow piece this together that I still had the hands to do it. The body’s not the same as it was a long time ago, but I still have good hands.”

There is no quit in Woods, proven by this comeback and his last major championship in 2008 Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open with a torn ACL and a double stress fracture in his left tibia. The immense pain was evident with each grimace after every swing of the club.

Over a decade later, the relentlessly persistent Woods is a champion again.

The way Woods won is fitting as well.

“If you look at it, my first 14 major wins I had the lead in, every one of them or tied for the lead. To have the opportunity to comeback like this is probably one of the biggest wins I’ve ever had for sure because of that,” Woods said following the tournament.

Woods came back from a third-round deficit, notching three birdies in the final six holes.

The final stretch saw the animated Woods flip his club after just missing the par putt that would’ve sealed the deal.

A short, graceful putt to finish 13 under par would follow, with knowing that one stroke of the club would crown Woods champion for the first time in 11 years.

Elated, Woods pumped his fist ecstatically, followed by raising both hands victoriously in the air.

Woods’ resurgence to the top is is one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, right alongside the likes of Adrian Peterson coming back from a torn ACL and MCL in eight months to become the 2012 NFL MVP, Tommy John winning 164 games after having what is now known as Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and Derrick Rose scoring a career-high 50 points and averaging 18 ppg off the bench after four knee surgeries.

The list goes on to include Paul George (severe broken leg), Peyton Manning (multiple neck surgeries), Shaun Livingston (severe knee injury) and many more, but those are three comebacks that stick out the most along with Woods’ recent feat of going from having trouble walking to being a major champion.

With the 2019 Masters Championship, Woods now has five Masters victories (second behind six by Jack Nicklaus), 15 major championships (second behind Nicklaus’ 18 victories) and 81 PGA tournament wins (second behind 82 by Sam Snead).

Woods will have another opportunity to embellish his illustrious legacy at the Bethpage Black tournament spanning May 16-19.

For now, Woods is just happy to be playing again. “To not only be able to play again, but to be able to win again, is something I will forever be grateful for. This jacket sure is comfortable.”