Ex-Ryder Cup ace Wood gets back to big-time in Turkey
Before rookie winner Martin Couvra took victory on Sunday, Wood, a former European PGA Championship winner at Wentworth who was part of Europe's Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine under Darren Clarke, wrote an emotional story in Antalya.
Chronic anxiety and burnout led to a dramatic drop in Wood's form from 2019, with his last top-10 coming at the 2018 KLM Open.
"It's 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 behind 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've been working so hard at home just quietly with a great team and it's been a long old road, to be honest.
"I never lost belief in myself - you obviously have days where it feels harder than some.
"The fire in my belly has always been there. I'm relying on invites this year. I'm ready - I'm practising so well at home that a call last minute is not a problem, I'm ready to go.
"Hopefully this is a first little step forward and anyone who wants me at their event, please pick up the phone because I need a few starts this year."
Couvra had led at the halfway stage but a third-round 72 left him four shots off the pace going into the final round.
However, the 22-year-old Frenchman produced a superb 64 to finish two shots clear of Spain's Jorge Campillo and China's Li Haotong.
"It was amazing to win on my first year on the DP World Tour - it's just a dream," said Couvra.
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