Former Ryder Cup star Wood set for return from wilderness with two dates in Thailand

The International Series is widely viewed by players around the globe as a pathway to the big time and a place on the LIV Golf League. However, one well-known former Ryder Cup star is viewing it as an important step on his road to recovery following years in the wilderness.

Rewind to 2016 and Chris Wood was flying high. The Englishman had initially hit the headlines in 2008 with a T5 and silver medal as highest amateur in The Open at Royal Birkdale, and he followed that with a T3 the following year at Turnberry.

Wood then claimed four big wins: the Thailand Open in 2012, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 2013, Lyoness Open in 2015 and BMW PGA Championship in 2016, on his way to securing a place in Team Europe for the 2016 Ryder Cup.

The rookie performed admirably with a 1-up foursomes win with Justin Rose over Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker, before a narrow 1-down loss in the singles to Dustin Johnson, now the 4Aces GC captain on the LIV Golf League.

Fast forward again to 2024, and the 36-year-old is set to tee it up in the next two weeks after receiving invites to the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, and International Series Thailand at the Thai Country Club in Bangkok.

While remaining cautious, there is real optimism for Wood as he views these elevated Asian Tour events as important dates on his long road back from the crippling anxiety that has blighted his game for years.

Wood said: “I was diagnosed with chronic anxiety and burnout. I've been through a really rubbish time over the last few years where my golf has really impacted me mentally.  

“I've actually been like that since 2019 but it took maybe four years before I did anything about it. It took literally bottoming out to stop, and I didn’t play at all last year. I took a whole year off, and this year has been about trying to get a card in my hand again.”

Wood’s target at the start of the year was to play six to eight events, and after a run on the Challenge Tour and one DP World event in Qatar, he’s now looking at the Thailand double-header as an important step in his recovery.  

He said: “I'm very open minded, the important thing is getting a card back in my hand. I use the word exposure, and these events are upper level, obviously a very high standard. The fields are great, The International Series tournaments themselves are great, the players have spoken very highly of them.”

In fact, it was a round with none other than The International Series Rankings leader John Catlin that inspired Wood to consider approaching the organisers of the elite, LIV Golf League promoted events which are sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

He explained: “I've played a couple of times with John earlier in the year, and we've talked about it. He's obviously done really well. I played with him in Abu Dhabi in April, along with my friend (English golfer) Lee Slattery.

“He had just shot his 59 (at International Series Macau presented by Wynn) and it was a really good three ball. Me and Slats were both saying how impressed we were with John’s game.”

One of the things that has attracted Wood is the atmosphere on the Asian Tour, which was also recommended by another English pro, Ollie Fisher.

Wood explained: “We are sharing a house this week, and Ollie said to me that one of the big things he's noticed is how friendly everyone is here. It's how it should be and how it was (pre-Covid) really, and one of the things he spoke highly about.”

Wood revealed he received a lot of support from the DP World Tour medical staff and its helpline on his road to recovery, and although it is early days, he is hoping to overcome his issues and once more be a force in the world of golf.

Wood said: “It's still very, very hard, but I'm still doing it because I want to, and because I feel like I've got so much more to offer. I know the quality of shots I've got and I can hit, so that's why I'm still in it.

“Ten years ago if you had said to me, you will be in this position mentally, I was so unaware of what those words meant, and it takes going through something like this, or someone very close to you going through it, before you can appreciate what those struggles are actually like.”

“It's hard because I still believe I've even got a Ryder Cup in me, I truly believe that, and I wouldn't still be putting myself in positions where I feel anxious and exposed unless I felt like it's going to be worth it.

The Black Mountain Championship takes place from 17-20 October at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand and the International Series Thailand takes place at Thai Country Club, Bangkok, from 23-27 October.

They are the fifth and sixth of 10 elevated tournaments on The International Series calendar.