Wood on comeback trail after 'going through hell'

BRISTOL’S Chris Wood said he felt like he “had been going through hell” after a closing 64 at the Turkish Airlines Open saw him record a first DP World Tour top-ten finish since 2018.

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Wood, 37, won three titles between 2013 and 2016, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine under captain Darren Clarke.

However, chronic anxiety and burnout led to a dramatic drop in his form from 2019, with his last top-ten coming at the 2018 KLM Open.

“It has been horrendous, to be honest,” said Wood, who was playing on a sponsor's invitation after losing his card, and whose 11-under total gave him a share of seventh, six shots off rookie winner Martin Couvra.

“It's been - since 2019 really - I just feel like I've been going through hell, so to put a score together today is obviously great.

“I want to feel like I know my game’s there, not just put a score on one day, and I genuinely feel like I'm starting to do that now.

“I've been working so hard at home just quietly with a great team and it’s been a long old road, to be honest.