Chris Wood said he felt like “he had been going through hell” after a closing 64 at the Turkish Airlines Open put him on course for his first DP World Tour top-ten finish since 2018.
The Englishman won three DP World Tour titles between 2013 and 2016, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
He made his Ryder Cup debut in 2016 but 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.
This is only Wood's second DP World Tour start of the season – he missed the cut in Qatar – but he has made the most of a sponsor's invite at Regnum Carya.
A second-round 67 saw him make the weekend for the first time at this level since 2022 and a sensational seven-under-par final round saw him briefly occupy a place in the top five, although with most of the field yet to reach the clubhouse.
“It's been horrendous to be honest,” he said. “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.
“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.
"I played with Oli Wilson the first couple of days and he asked how I'm doing it, how I'm practising at home to be match ready – they're my secrets.
“The Tour have been good. The medical team have really helped me. 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!”
