Tiger Woods’ struggles with injury stopped the golfing giant from dominating the sport in the way he would have liked.
The star underwent four different back surgeries between 2014 and 2017, and Woods also missed several major tournaments due to leg injuries.
Despite the issues that hampered his career, Woods still managed to win 15 major tournaments, including three US Open championships in 2000, 2002, and 2008.
The last of which saw Woods fight through immense pain to be crowned a three-time champion at the illustrious tournament, offering an expletive-ridden response to those advising him to quit.
Tiger Woods’ iconic five-word response to US Open injury
Two months before the 2008 US Open, Woods underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which was aggravated at the tournament.
Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, told a defiant story of the American great playing through injury to capture his third US Open crown.
Woods suffered an ACL tear after hitting a shot on the concrete, and Williams assumed his tournament would be over.
“I could hear the crunch in the knee,” said Williams. “I felt this terrible pain myself, and I knew he felt that.”
Williams tried to convince the 15-time major winner to retire from the tournament, but Woods wasn’t having any of it.
“I said to him, ‘You might just wreck your whole career here,’ and Woods’ response was the stuff of legend.
“He said, ‘F— you Stevie, I’m winning this tournament,’ explained Williams, and that’s exactly what the golfing legend did.
Woods won the 2008 US Open after a nerve-rattling playoff against Rocco Mediate, which ended at the par-4 7th hole at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.
Tiger Woods offers advice to 2025 US Open competitors
This year’s US Open takes place at Oakmont Country Club, which is considered one of the hardest courses in golf.
Bryce DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler shared worries about Oakmont and Woods has done nothing to dispel players’ fears.
“There is no faking about Oakmont,” said Woods in a video posted to his Instagram. “The golf course is big, yes, but it’s just, there’s no way around it.
Woods competed at Oakmont Country Club at the US Open in 2007, falling to a heartbreaking second-place finish in Pennsylvania.
He offered advice to the exciting crop of golfers hoping to go one further than Woods did in 2007.
“You just have to hit the golf ball well, and it favors longer hitters, just because of the degrees, the complexes.”
Argentinian Ángel Cabrera picked up the win over Woods in 2007, finishing one shot above the star with an impressive score of +5.
Oakmont has also hosted the US Open on eight other occasions, including 2016, 1994, and 1993.