SAN FRANCISCO: Tiger Woods usually measures the success of a season by the number of majors he wins but after clinching a Presidents Cup for the US on Sunday the world No 1 conceded this year had been special.
While Woods was unable to add to his collection of 14 major titles, it would be hard to find any disappointment in a campaign that produced six PGA Tour wins, a $10 million bonus as Tour Championship winner and the winning putt in a 19 1/2 to 14 1/2 Cup win over the Internationals.
"It's a great year, are you kidding me?" Woods said. "Even though I didn't win a major championship, to come back from what I came back from, to have the success I had this year, I don't think anyone would have predicted that and I'm very proud."
The season began with great uncertainty for Woods, who did not return to the PGA Tour until late February for the WGC-Accenture Match Play World Championship after eight months out recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.
The 33-year-old American quickly confirmed he was back at his best, his victories producing more than $20 million in prizemoney to make him sport's first $1 billion athlete, according to Forbes magazine.
The Presidents Cup victory also came with a tasty measure of revenge for Woods, who secured the trophy with a six-foot putt for a crushing 6&5 win over South Korea's Yang Yong-eun, who spectacularly overhauled him in the final round of the PGA Championship.
"He got me there and I figured I would get him here," said Woods. "It certainly wasn't the same atmosphere but then it was still an important point.
There were plenty of fist-pumps during a week in which Woods went unbeaten, posting a record of 5-0, but the clinching putt produced only a muted reaction, the No 1 taking off his cap then walking over to shake hands with Yang.
"I saw we were down six matches at one point so I just kept my head down and tried to extend my own lead.
"I did pretty good coming in."
Questions:
1. How many PGA titles did Woods win this season?
2. What kind of surgery did Tiger Woods have to recover from?
3. How old is Tiger Woods?
Answers:
1. 6.
2. Reconstructive knee surgery.
3. 33 years old.
(英語點津 Helen 編輯)
About the broadcaster:
Chantal Anderson is a multimedia journalist at the China Daily Web site. Originally from Seattle, Washington she has found her way around the world doing photo essays in Greece, Mexico and Thailand. She is currently completing a double degree in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Washington.