Tiger's Ryder Cup return to cap amazing comeback season

Playing in the Ryder Cup will be the culmination of an amazing comeback season for Tiger Woods, one the 14-time major champion feared might never happen after back surgery.

The 42-year-old American has shown flashes of the form that made him golf's dominant player in younger days in his first campaign after spinal fusion surgery, a last-gasp operation to try and extend his legendary career.

"It was a last-ditch effort," Woods said.

"I tried everything else because fusion is the last-ditch effort and nothing beyond that. So didn't know what my playing career would be like. This is all uncharted territory."
"As the year progressed, I gained some traction and was somehow able to get some high finishes and lo and behold, I'm a part of this team. It's incredible, it really is, to look back at the start of the year and to have accomplished a goal like that. To be a player is just beyond special."
- 'One of my best years' -
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"It has been so special to have this opportunity again. I'm certainly not taking it for granted, that's for sure."
"Anything beyond that was going to be a plus considering where I was coming from, and so to get to where I'm at, I never thought that was going to happen."
- Next wins 'coming soon' -
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"I feel my next wins are coming soon. How soon, I don't know, but I'm putting myself in tournaments now so I'm not that far away from getting it done."
"They know that I'm at the tail end of my career and I don't know how many more years I have left. I'm certainly not like I was when I was 22 -- 42, it's a different ballgame."