Augusta National chairman Payne thinks Woods will win again
Do not count Augusta National chairman Billy Payne among the Tiger Woods doubters.
In an interview with Golfweek, Payne, who is celebrating 10 years as chairman of the club, was asked if he thinks Woods will return to the game. Payne took his answer a step further. He thinks the four-time Masters winner will again someday find himself in the winner's circle.
"I’ve answered that question a thousand times the last several years, and I have predicted not only will we see him back, we’ll see him win again," Payne said. "He’s that extraordinary a talent. I know he’s had a lot of medical issues, but he’s just so good. So yes, we’ll see Tiger re-emerge as a great player, certainly."
Woods has not played competitively since finishing tied for 10th, his best finish of the year, at the Wyndham Championship in August in what amounted to a last-ditch effort to make the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs. That week, Woods experienced pain he attributed to his hip. However, when he went to his Utah surgeon for a routine check-up, the pain was pinpointed to the same area of his back where he had a microdiscectomy performed in March 2014. Woods had a second microdiscectomy done in September and a follow-up surgery in October.
In December at the Hero World Challenge, which benefits his foundation, Woods said there is no timetable for his return and that he hasn't started significant physical rehab. Since then, Woods has offered little indication of his progress.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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