Inzai (Japan) (AFP)

"It's just crazy": Tiger Woods himself could not believe he had won his 82nd PGA Tour title in Japan on Monday, equaling the record of another legend in his sport, Sam Snead , which held for 54 years.

Woods won the Zozo Championship, the first PGA Tour tournament to be held in Japan, three strokes ahead of Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and 19 under par.

A time lost for golf, Tiger Woods, 43, continues to sign his incredible comeback, six months after winning the prestigious Augusta Masters last April, his 15th Grand Slam title and his first major in 11 years .

In early 2018, at the time of his return to the greens, such a scenario seemed impossible, even for the most enthusiastic of his supporters. And perhaps even for the main interested party dropped back to 656th place worldwide end of 2017 after two white years.

- "It's a lot !" -

After several failed attempts and four back operations, including an arthrodesis, a painful fusion of vertebrae, the golfer of all records was indeed in limbo.

"It's just crazy, that's a lot!" Responded Woods after his title, which was won only two months after an arthroscopic knee surgery. "Undergoing a new operation, coming back and winning a title is not easy, but I trust my hands and today it was the same."

A precocious monster, Woods won his first PGA tournament 23 years ago in Las Vegas.

The end of the tournament had to be postponed to Monday morning after the postponement of the second round last Friday because of heavy rains that flooded the Inzai course in Chiba Prefecture (eastern suburbs of Tokyo).

World number two, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy finished third at 13 under par, tied with South Korean Im Sung-jae.

"The week was long, five days at the top of the ranking was long, it was stressful, it's clear," he added. "It was much tighter than people probably thought, Hideki (Matsuyama) put pressure on me."

- Olympic Ambition -

The performance of the Tiger has been praised.

By a historical figure of golf like Jack Nicklaus: "For years, all we wanted was to see Tiger again in good health, but for his quality of life.But it's obvious that the operation and the rough Tiger's work has translated into the quality of the game! "commented the 18-man Grand Slam champion.

But also by Woods' day dolphin, Gary Woodland: "Overcoming the injuries he has faced, incredible, he's young and he's playing incredibly, I think we're going to see more," said the winner. 'US Open.

While Sam Snead took his 82nd title at the age of 52, Woods took nine years to reach that record.

"Playing until I'm 52. I hope that will be the case If you had asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but now the future looks brighter", said Woods may be back in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics

"I hope to qualify and represent my country," said Woods. "I have some friends who have played the Olympics in the past and who told me it was the experience of a lifetime."

"I will be 44 years old and I do not know if I will have other opportunities afterwards."

© 2019 AFP