Tiger Woods has done it. The golfing legend has accomplished yet another successful comeback to catapult himself to a new record-equaling height. The American held off Hideki Matsuyama at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on Monday to emulate Sam Snead's long-standing record of 82 PGA tour wins and also moved to number six in the world rankings from tenth in that process. 

His remarkable comeback win at the Zozo Championship following an injury lay off has ended the "most challenging" phase of his storied career. It was his first tournament since arthroscopic left knee surgery in August and he was off to a nightmarish start on Thursday with three straight bogeys. However, the ace golfer, who has undergone four back surgeries, countless knee operations, marital strife and run-ins with the law over the past few years, has underlined that he is just not finished yet. 

"Well, it's satisfying to dig my way out of it and figure out a way," said Woods, who bagged the title three shots clear on 19-under par. After four stunning rounds of 64, 64, 66 and 67 for a three-stroke win, he mentioned, "as far as playing, I didn't really know that I would come back and play at this level. "But I've come back with different games over the years, moving patterns, and this one's been obviously the most challenging."

Woods also recalled that he got a chance to play with Snead for the only time as a five-year-old in 1981. "I played with Sam at, I think, it was Calabasas Country Club," the 43-year-old informed.

"He was doing an outing there and I had come out to play the 17th and 18th holes with him. I remember hitting the ball into a little creek and playing it out of the water and making bogey. I bogeyed the last and he went par-par. It was the only time I ever got a chance to play with Sam Snead – I was two-down through two," he quipped. 

Interestingly, Snead registered his 82nd win at the age of 52 while 15-times major winner Woods is nine years younger.

"If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but certainly the future looks brighter than it has," he jokingly told a reporter about his prospect of surpassing Snead's magic mark.

Meanwhile, the morale-boosting win also helped Woods remain optimistic about his Olympic dream. "I hope to qualify for the team and represent my country. I know some of my friends have made Olympic teams before in the past and they said it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'll be 44 and I don't know if I have many more chances after that," he remarked.