Golf legend Ian Woosnam overcame chronic pain for one last shot at the Masters
Ian Woosnam, the 1991
Masters
champion, has had a rough go with chronic
back pain
as a result of ankylosing spondylitis, a rare
arthritis
form. He's twice announced his
retirement from The Masters
in 2016 and 2019 because
the hilly Augusta National
was just too much for him.
Despite
a stellar career
that boasts 29 European Tour victories, being world number one for 50 weeks, and
captaining
the European
Ryder Cup
team to victory in 2006, all contributing to him being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, his condition nearly cut his playing days short.
After missing the cut at Augusta for the eleventh year in a row in 2019,
just like a number of stars this year
, Woosnam expressed his despair, stating how he thought it was likely his "last time playing here," citing unbearable pain each time he played the course.
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"I'm just in too much pain. And it happens every time I get here. It must be the hills because I've been playing and hitting a lot of balls recently with no ill effects. But as soon as I get on this course, my back bothers me," he said.
Woosnam lamented the situation, saying: "I know I've said this before. But this time it feels like the end. I want to enjoy playing, but I just can't. It's too bad, really. I'm playing well, so it is really disappointing. But I have to say goodbye sometime. If nothing changes physically, I'm done. I just can't go on like this."
However, Woosnam's life took a turn for the better when he decided to undergo spinal decompression surgery a year later, giving him one more chance to play the
iconic Augusta course
. He had the procedure at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, and after some time spent on rehabilitation, felt ready to face one of
golf's
most challenging competitions.
"The last few months, I have been feeling really strong again. I guess I should have had this surgery years ago," Woosnam remarked in 2021. "Feeling like I do, I knew when I got the invitation to play in April that retirement would have to, once again, wait. I can't wait to play.
Woosnam claimed his only Masters title in 1991
"[I want to] walk around for 36 holes ... and just to try and play the course without being in any pain, really, because I've been in pain for the last 20 years playing around here."
Woosnam achieved his goal, making another appearance at The Masters before deciding to end that part of his career. Although he didn't make it past the initial rounds, he played admirably, finishing nine-over-par after two days, outscoring other Masters winners such as Sandy Lyle, Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, and Larry Mize.
Notably, Woosnam was only three strokes behind
Rory McIlroy
, who
eventually secured the Green Jacket two weeks ago
to finally achieve a career Grand Slam and end an 11-year wait for a fifth major.
This weekend, Woosnam is participating in his first tournament of the season on the Legends Tour, which is the senior circuit of the DP World Tour. The 67-year-old is hosting the Barbados Legends at Apes Hill, where he'll be joined by well-known players including Paul McGinley and Michael Campbell.
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