2019 was full of sporting feats that seemed near impossible just 12-months earlier. Newshub's experts weigh in on their sporting comebacks of the year.
TIGER WOODS WINS THE US MASTERS
How could you go past it? As far as comebacks go, this was one for the ages.
After being exposed for his womanising ways and cripppled by ongoing injuries, Woods' rock bottom was like something out of a movie. Once a colossus of the sport, Woods had been reduced to a walking cliche and many doubted he'd ever add to his 14 major wins.
Which is what made his triumph at the Masters so special. As dramatic as his downfall was, his win at Augusta was straight off the silver screen.
From the clutch putts to the touching moment with his son after the final hole - Wood's 15th major may have been his best yet.
Stephen Foote, Newshub online producer
STEVE SMITH'S HISTORY MAKING ASHES CAMPAIGN
Love him or hate him, he's made a remarkable comeback to cricket.
After seeing out a year long ban for ball tampering, Smith's return to cricket came in the Cricket World Cup where he totalled 379 runs for the tournament, before a stunning Ashes series in which he almost single handedly ensured the urn would return to Australia.
Honourable mention to Katrina Rore, who came back from a 2018 to forget. Rore coupled a World Cup win with an ANZ Premiership title with the Central Pulse and the Australian ANZ Championship with the NSW Swifts.
Ollie Ritchie, Newshub sport reporter and host of The Cup 19 podcast
TIGER WOODS WINS THE US MASTERS
Boy was it a good one, Woods completed his career comeback by taking out the 2019 Masters, his 15th Major Championship win.
He showed signs of it late in 2018 when he won the Tour Championship and took Augusta by the scruff of the neck to win a fifth green jacket. Expect big things in 2020 - maybe even a return to world No.1.
Luke Robinson, Newshub online sport reporter
KATRINA RORE'S GOLDEN YEAR
Twelve months ago, Rore's future with the Silver Ferns looked shaky and no-one would have blamed the newly married defender if she stepped away to start a family.
As the NZ netballers missed out on Commonwealth Games medals for the first time on the Gold Coast, she had been left, um, holding the baby, having her commitment to the black dress questioned on national TV.
In truth, Rore was one of the few players to emerge from the disappointment with reputation intact, but was still dropped by incoming coach Noeline Taurua.
Stripped of the captaincy, she had to work her way back from serious injury into the circle of trust, but as one of the self-proclaimed 'fossils' of the team, she switched position and became a mainstay of the world champion Ferns at Liverpool.
After already winning the NZ national league title with Central Pulse, Rore then completed a rare treble, helping New South Wales Swifts to victory in the Australian Super Netball competition.
With veteran Casey Kopua and Folau already retired, and doubts over the future of Laura Langman, Rore, 32, now seems the most likely of the fossils to contest another World Cup in four years.
Grant Chapman, Newshub online sport editor
TIGER WOODS WINS THE US MASTERS
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to suggest Tiger Woods winning the Masters this year is one of sports greatest ever comebacks.
The most public of marriage breakups, and the most public of injury breakdowns, would not be enough for Woods' career to end prematurely.
Love him or hate him, watching Tiger putting to win on that final hole is inspiring viewing for anyone.
Mitch McCann, Newshub reporter
