First off congratulations to Tiger Woods in winning the 2008 US Open. And he did in pain. After not playing for 2 months, recovering from knee surgery after the Masters in April. He came back with out playing any competition or played any 18 holes golf. This open is the best one and it will be the talk of golfers for many years to come.
Can catch the new here ...ESPN.
When i heard that he was playing through pain, i knew he will be out after the US Open and may missed the British Open in July. What i did not know is that he will be missing the rest of 2008 season. Another operation to fix his knee, so that he can continue to play in the long run. Can catch the story here.
After hearing this news, already people are talking that golf attendance might drop because the world top golfer won't be playing. This will give the rest of the players a chance to win some tournament. Tiger's world ranking points is so high, that if he does not play for 2 years, he will still be world number 1 (and it is based on the points between him and world number 2).
Now, what i am peeved about is another golfer who i don;t know either jealous or a bit of ding bat, i am sure Cat Cat and Mr GQ will agree with me..he should have kept his mouth shut. Got this from here. I hope Tiger sees this news and when he comes back, beat the crap out of this ding bat. And he better do not say he was misquoted or that sort thing.
European stars back injured Woods
Some of Europe's top players have backed Tiger Woods after Retief Goosen questioned the severity of the injury he played with in winning the US Open.
The South African suggested Woods, who had a third operation on his left knee in April, could have been faking.
But Woods's announcement on Wednesday that he will miss the rest of the season to have surgery back up claims that players heard noises from his leg.
Woods said he will subsequently miss the Open at Birkdale and the Ryder Cup.
The world number one will also miss the USPGA to have reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and to rehabilitate a double stress fracture of his left tibia which came about in preparation for the US Open.
Speaking to a German television station ahead of the BMW International Open in Munich, two-time US Open champion Goosen said Woods's injury seemed to come and go throughout the tournament.
"It just seemed when he hit bad shots his knee was in pain and on his good shots he wasn't," he said.
Asked if he felt Woods could have been faking it, Goosen said: "I think so. When he made the putts and he went down on his knees and shouting 'yeah', his knee wasn't sore.
Goosen later claimed he was just being "light-hearted," but added: "No-one but Tiger knows how badly hurt he was. But if he was really badly hurt, he would have withdrawn, wouldn't he?"
But Paul Casey said that Robert Karlsson's caddie heard Woods's knee creaking. "He was right there and clearly he was suffering," said Casey. "Noises from the knee doesn't sound good to me."
Niclas Fasth, the defending champion in Munich, said: "I didn't speak to Tiger, but he was obviously hurting."
And Graeme McDowell added: "Tiger is the first person to win a major on one leg - he's the greatest of all time. It was great drama and I don't care if he was injured or not. It made for fantastic television.
"Technically, physically, mentally he's better than everyone else and that's a scary thought. When he is on his game nobody is even close."
Woods play-off win at Torrey Pines secured his 14th major and he is now just four behind Jack Nicklaus's record haul.
Me and some fellow friends...usually say we don;t mind Tiger lose to so and so...like for example, we would not mind if he had lost to Rocco in this US Open.
But there are a few we do not want Tiger to lose to. And this ding bat just made the latest list of golfers we hope Tiger will pounced on.
To Mr Tiger Woods, i hope and pray that the knee surgery will be a success and you will recover well and be ready for 2009. Take care and God bless.
Showing posts with label Golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golf. Show all posts
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Monday, December 17, 2007
Woods caps triumph with record showing in host tourney
ESPN.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The final putt of the year safely in the hole for par and another victory, Tiger Woods was quickly reminded what kind of year 2007 turned out to be.
First, he walked over to his six-month-old daughter, dressed in a red fleece top, for a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the head. Then came the presentation on the 18th green at Sherwood Country Club, where Woods collected his eighth trophy of the year.
Tiger Woods increased his margin to seven strokes Sunday over his nearest competitor, Zach Johnson, in capturing for the fourth time his Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California.
He became a father for the first time in June. He won his 13th career major in August at the PGA Championship. He swept all the major awards to further separate himself from the rest of golf.
The final piece came Sunday at the Target World Challenge, a seven-shot victory and a $1.35 million check that goes to his Tiger Woods Learning Center.
"This year on the golf course, it's been a great year,'' Woods said. "Off the golf course, it's been the greatest year I've ever had.''
Woods first understood what he called the "power of family'' when Padraig Harrington made double bogey on the 18th hole at Carnoustie and was all smiles when he saw his son, Patrick, while waiting to see if there would be a playoff at the British Open.
There was no such suspense at Sherwood, at least not for long.
Jim Furyk cut a six-shot lead down to two at the turn and was poised to get even closer on the 10th hole. Woods holed a 12-foot birdie putt up the slope, and Furyk three-putted for bogey from 4 feet above the hole. It was a stunning two-shot swing, and Woods soon restored his margin and coasted to victory.
He closed with a 4-under 68 to tie the tournament record at 22-under 266, making him the first player to win consecutive titles at this year-end tournament for an elite, 16-man field.
Masters champion Zach Johnson won the B-flight and a load of Christmas cash. Johnson birdied the last hole for a 68 to finish second, worth $840,000. Furyk, who hit another tee shot in the water for double bogey on the 15th, shot a 71 to finish third and won $570,000.
The margin of victory was the largest at this tournament in its nine-year history, and it was the third time this year that Woods won a tournament by seven shots or more. And this after taking a 10-week break.
"Doesn't help us, does it?'' Colin Montgomerie said. "If he took a bloody year off, it would help. Never mind 10 weeks.''
Woods had to sweat, but it was only a drop.
He was six shots clear until a two-shot swing on the seventh hole, when Furyk made birdie and Woods three-putted for his first bogey. Furyk birdied the next hole, and Woods dropped a shot on the ninth when he failed to save par from a bunker.
Suddenly, the lead was two shots going to the back nine, and Furyk immediately applied pressure with a wedge that he hit with no spin to about 4 feet above the flag. Woods hit wedge that spun back 12 feet below the cup, and that made all the difference.
Woods calmly made the birdie putt, while Furyk's putt slid by the cup and rolled 4 feet by. He slapped at the face of his putter, then missed the par putt for a two-shot swing.
"Jimmy put a ton of heat on me the front nine,'' Woods said. "The whole tournament switched on the 10th. That was a big two-shot swing there.''
Woods' lead was back to four, and he kept that margin until the par-3 15th.
Furyk was three shots behind Saturday until hitting 6-iron into the water. The final round was no different. Furyk found the water again for double bogey, and he was back to where he started, six shots behind.
"You don't start six down to Tiger very often and cut it to two, so I had a really good opportunity,'' Furyk said. "And I wasn't able to take advantage of it.''
The only question after that was the margin of victory, and whether Rory Sabbatini made it safely to Hawaii.
Sabbatini, who was in last place going into the final round, withdrew from the 16-man field Sunday morning. He told the PGA Tour he was pulling out for "personal reasons,'' but his agent later said it was due to shin splints.
A locker-room attendant said Sabbatini told him Saturday night he was leaving for Maui, and tournament officials were still looking for his courtesy car late Sunday afternoon.
The South African still received $170,000 for last place, but perhaps lost some respect along the way.
"I think I could have toughed it out one more round,'' Mark Calcavecchia said. "I don't think the fans missed him.''
Told that Sabbatini's agent said the reason was shin splints, Fred Couples wasn't buying.
"Of course, he did,'' Couples said. "And Roger Clemens' agent said he didn't do steroids.''
Asked if he minded that Sabbatini took off, a cold stare from Woods said otherwise.
"I'd like to try and get to the bottom of it when I'm done here, and we'll see what happens,'' he said.
It certainly had no bearing on the tournament. Woods hasn't been seen at a golf tournament in 10 weeks, and it was as though he never left. His swing wasn't as polished as it was the first two rounds, but it was no different from his summer surge when it counted.
"I took four weeks off and struggled,'' Paul Casey said after finishing 21 shots behind. "We have a saying in England that he was Rolls Roycing it. You fire up the car and it purrs perfectly. I'm very envious.''
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The final putt of the year safely in the hole for par and another victory, Tiger Woods was quickly reminded what kind of year 2007 turned out to be.
First, he walked over to his six-month-old daughter, dressed in a red fleece top, for a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the head. Then came the presentation on the 18th green at Sherwood Country Club, where Woods collected his eighth trophy of the year.
Tiger Woods increased his margin to seven strokes Sunday over his nearest competitor, Zach Johnson, in capturing for the fourth time his Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California.
He became a father for the first time in June. He won his 13th career major in August at the PGA Championship. He swept all the major awards to further separate himself from the rest of golf.
The final piece came Sunday at the Target World Challenge, a seven-shot victory and a $1.35 million check that goes to his Tiger Woods Learning Center.
"This year on the golf course, it's been a great year,'' Woods said. "Off the golf course, it's been the greatest year I've ever had.''
Woods first understood what he called the "power of family'' when Padraig Harrington made double bogey on the 18th hole at Carnoustie and was all smiles when he saw his son, Patrick, while waiting to see if there would be a playoff at the British Open.
There was no such suspense at Sherwood, at least not for long.
Jim Furyk cut a six-shot lead down to two at the turn and was poised to get even closer on the 10th hole. Woods holed a 12-foot birdie putt up the slope, and Furyk three-putted for bogey from 4 feet above the hole. It was a stunning two-shot swing, and Woods soon restored his margin and coasted to victory.
He closed with a 4-under 68 to tie the tournament record at 22-under 266, making him the first player to win consecutive titles at this year-end tournament for an elite, 16-man field.
Masters champion Zach Johnson won the B-flight and a load of Christmas cash. Johnson birdied the last hole for a 68 to finish second, worth $840,000. Furyk, who hit another tee shot in the water for double bogey on the 15th, shot a 71 to finish third and won $570,000.
The margin of victory was the largest at this tournament in its nine-year history, and it was the third time this year that Woods won a tournament by seven shots or more. And this after taking a 10-week break.
"Doesn't help us, does it?'' Colin Montgomerie said. "If he took a bloody year off, it would help. Never mind 10 weeks.''
Woods had to sweat, but it was only a drop.
He was six shots clear until a two-shot swing on the seventh hole, when Furyk made birdie and Woods three-putted for his first bogey. Furyk birdied the next hole, and Woods dropped a shot on the ninth when he failed to save par from a bunker.
Suddenly, the lead was two shots going to the back nine, and Furyk immediately applied pressure with a wedge that he hit with no spin to about 4 feet above the flag. Woods hit wedge that spun back 12 feet below the cup, and that made all the difference.
Woods calmly made the birdie putt, while Furyk's putt slid by the cup and rolled 4 feet by. He slapped at the face of his putter, then missed the par putt for a two-shot swing.
"Jimmy put a ton of heat on me the front nine,'' Woods said. "The whole tournament switched on the 10th. That was a big two-shot swing there.''
Woods' lead was back to four, and he kept that margin until the par-3 15th.
Furyk was three shots behind Saturday until hitting 6-iron into the water. The final round was no different. Furyk found the water again for double bogey, and he was back to where he started, six shots behind.
"You don't start six down to Tiger very often and cut it to two, so I had a really good opportunity,'' Furyk said. "And I wasn't able to take advantage of it.''
The only question after that was the margin of victory, and whether Rory Sabbatini made it safely to Hawaii.
Sabbatini, who was in last place going into the final round, withdrew from the 16-man field Sunday morning. He told the PGA Tour he was pulling out for "personal reasons,'' but his agent later said it was due to shin splints.
A locker-room attendant said Sabbatini told him Saturday night he was leaving for Maui, and tournament officials were still looking for his courtesy car late Sunday afternoon.
The South African still received $170,000 for last place, but perhaps lost some respect along the way.
"I think I could have toughed it out one more round,'' Mark Calcavecchia said. "I don't think the fans missed him.''
Told that Sabbatini's agent said the reason was shin splints, Fred Couples wasn't buying.
"Of course, he did,'' Couples said. "And Roger Clemens' agent said he didn't do steroids.''
Asked if he minded that Sabbatini took off, a cold stare from Woods said otherwise.
"I'd like to try and get to the bottom of it when I'm done here, and we'll see what happens,'' he said.
It certainly had no bearing on the tournament. Woods hasn't been seen at a golf tournament in 10 weeks, and it was as though he never left. His swing wasn't as polished as it was the first two rounds, but it was no different from his summer surge when it counted.
"I took four weeks off and struggled,'' Paul Casey said after finishing 21 shots behind. "We have a saying in England that he was Rolls Roycing it. You fire up the car and it purrs perfectly. I'm very envious.''
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Player of the Year....
Tiger Woods, what can i say...:) He is the man...:)
ESPN.
Highs and lows for Woods as leading money-winner, best scoring average
Tiger Woods was named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year for the third straight time, and ninth in 11 years, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced Tuesday.
"To earn the respect of your peers is the highest honor you can receive," Finchem said. "These players all demonstrated remarkable skill and dedication to their craft this past season and we congratulate them on their selections."
Tiger Woods won seven events in 2007, including a two-stroke victory at the PGA Championship in Tulsa, Okla., his 13th career major title.
Woods, 31, won seven times in 2007, including the PGA Championship, his 13th major championship title, and captured the inaugural FedExCup. In addition, his season was highlighted by wins in two World Golf Championships events, and he closed by winning two of the four events in the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and four of his final five starts overall.
"I had a great chance to win three of the four majors this year," Woods said. "I finished second in two of them. I was just a few shots away from basically doing what I did in 2000. What did I finish, second to Phil? And then the two major championships. If I get those done, get those squared away, people would probably be comparing it to 2000, if not better."
Off the course, he welcomed the birth of his first child, a daughter named Sam Alexis, now almost six months old. He left the clubs in the bag for seven weeks, and only recently returned to the range, to get ready to host the ninth annual Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., this week. Sam Woods has been accompanying him to the driving range in recent days, according to a report by Bloomberg News. "She kind of shakes every time I hit a shot," Woods said. "Like, she gets excited. This could be good."
Woods also collected the Arnold Palmer Award for the eighth time as the leading money-winner, earning $10,867,052 -- the second-highest total in Tour history. Woods took home his eighth Byron Nelson Trophy for leading the PGA Tour in scoring average; his 67.79 average equaled the lowest average in Tour history.
Phil Mickelson was the only other nominee for Player of the Year honors on the PGA Tour after he completed his season with three victories, including The Players Championship title.
Among other awards announced:
Brandt Snedeker, who won the Wyndham Championship and finished 20th on the FedExCup points list, was selected as the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year. He had six top-10 finishes and collected $2,836,643 -- the third-highest rookie total ever.
The PGA TOUR's Comeback Player of the Year Award went to Steve Stricker for the second consecutive season. Stricker finished second in the FedExCup race and had nine top-10 finishes, the second-highest total of his career. His victory at The Barclays, the first PGA TOUR Playoff event, ended a victory drought that dated back to the 2001 season.
Jay Haas was voted as the Player of the Year on the Champions Tour for the second consecutive season, with four victories among 18 top-10 finishes in 27 starts.
Nick Flanagan, a native of Australia, became the first international player in the 18-year history of the Nationwide Tour to earn top honors. He won three times in only 17 starts to earn an automatic promotion to the PGA TOUR. Despite playing the last several months of the season on the PGA TOUR, Flanagan still finished third on the Nationwide Tour money list with $369,951.
ESPN.
Highs and lows for Woods as leading money-winner, best scoring average
Tiger Woods was named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year for the third straight time, and ninth in 11 years, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced Tuesday.
"To earn the respect of your peers is the highest honor you can receive," Finchem said. "These players all demonstrated remarkable skill and dedication to their craft this past season and we congratulate them on their selections."
Tiger Woods won seven events in 2007, including a two-stroke victory at the PGA Championship in Tulsa, Okla., his 13th career major title.
Woods, 31, won seven times in 2007, including the PGA Championship, his 13th major championship title, and captured the inaugural FedExCup. In addition, his season was highlighted by wins in two World Golf Championships events, and he closed by winning two of the four events in the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and four of his final five starts overall.
"I had a great chance to win three of the four majors this year," Woods said. "I finished second in two of them. I was just a few shots away from basically doing what I did in 2000. What did I finish, second to Phil? And then the two major championships. If I get those done, get those squared away, people would probably be comparing it to 2000, if not better."
Off the course, he welcomed the birth of his first child, a daughter named Sam Alexis, now almost six months old. He left the clubs in the bag for seven weeks, and only recently returned to the range, to get ready to host the ninth annual Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., this week. Sam Woods has been accompanying him to the driving range in recent days, according to a report by Bloomberg News. "She kind of shakes every time I hit a shot," Woods said. "Like, she gets excited. This could be good."
Woods also collected the Arnold Palmer Award for the eighth time as the leading money-winner, earning $10,867,052 -- the second-highest total in Tour history. Woods took home his eighth Byron Nelson Trophy for leading the PGA Tour in scoring average; his 67.79 average equaled the lowest average in Tour history.
Phil Mickelson was the only other nominee for Player of the Year honors on the PGA Tour after he completed his season with three victories, including The Players Championship title.
Among other awards announced:
Brandt Snedeker, who won the Wyndham Championship and finished 20th on the FedExCup points list, was selected as the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year. He had six top-10 finishes and collected $2,836,643 -- the third-highest rookie total ever.
The PGA TOUR's Comeback Player of the Year Award went to Steve Stricker for the second consecutive season. Stricker finished second in the FedExCup race and had nine top-10 finishes, the second-highest total of his career. His victory at The Barclays, the first PGA TOUR Playoff event, ended a victory drought that dated back to the 2001 season.
Jay Haas was voted as the Player of the Year on the Champions Tour for the second consecutive season, with four victories among 18 top-10 finishes in 27 starts.
Nick Flanagan, a native of Australia, became the first international player in the 18-year history of the Nationwide Tour to earn top honors. He won three times in only 17 starts to earn an automatic promotion to the PGA TOUR. Despite playing the last several months of the season on the PGA TOUR, Flanagan still finished third on the Nationwide Tour money list with $369,951.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Junior Golfers...
For the past few days i was busy helping out at my golf club's 3rd Junior Golf competition. For the past 2 years, the competition was only open to local players. This year the organizers decided to open for players from outside my city. Competition was divided into 3 groups. Group D - Age 7-9. Group C - age 10-12, Group B-age 12-14. Group A - age 15-18. The group D one is so cute, small sizes but playing with semangat.
Initially, they thought the cut off point will be 80 players. But after registeration was stop, calls kept on coming in. Register for the competition was 91. During the competition, 89 turn up. 45 players is from my club, and the rest was made up of junior golfers from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Labuan, Brunei, KK, Sandakan and Kudat.
The best thing is, no need to pay entrance/competition fees. First day of competition was on Wednesday, after their games, each player had a goodie bag. Which made up off, 1 x shoe bag, 1x towel, 1x tube of golf balls, 1 competition t-shirt and 1 cap. Value of all the things was about RM160.
During the welcoming dinner, also got lucky draws. (Will post up the photos once i loaded it up ). One lucky kid who did not play well during the first day, won the big prize for the nite, a golf bag...junior size bag.
Final day of competition was on Thursday, during the prize giving, there were 75 prizes for the lucky draw (89 players). Major prize was a mountain bike (which was supposed to meant for hole - in - one). 50 of the lucky draw gifts is a golf marker plus pitch thingy with the US Open 2008, San Diego Torrey Pines logo.
The patron of the competition was in US this year for the junior world competition in San Diego, he bought 50 of the 'souvenirs' to be given away as lucky draw for this competition. With the aim of hoping one junior golfer will make it there in the US.
During the prize giving, every body got something to bring back. Some won two lucky draws (welcoming dinner and prize giving time). Those whose name was not called, also got umbrellas to bring back. No junior golfer went back empty handed.
A lot of parents and players commented that it was the best competition they
ever attended. Even got video shooting, at the golf course, welcoming dinner and prize presentation time. No entrance fee and yet good goodie bag and lucky draw gifts.
How did all these came about?
A lot of members in my club fully supports the patron's and club vision for the junior golf programe. Any time the club ask for sponsors, they gladly give. Either their own children are playing, grand children are playing or friend's children who play the game. They gladly give back to the junior programe. Some even pick the players and parents from the airport to hotel, from hotel to club.
Any way, it was great seeing the kids playing the game. Oh ya, my brother won group B's nett competition. His handicap was 20, final day he played 82, so 82-20 = 62. He play under for his handicap. Will see a new handicap for him by next monday. Hopefully with this win, will spur his motivation to improve himself. Who knows may be next year he will get to go to World Junior Competition in the US.
Main aim for the competition is to foster good friendship among the junior players, good networking for the future and the discipline in playing the 'gentlement's game'. How i wish i was young to be like them...:)
Initially, they thought the cut off point will be 80 players. But after registeration was stop, calls kept on coming in. Register for the competition was 91. During the competition, 89 turn up. 45 players is from my club, and the rest was made up of junior golfers from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Labuan, Brunei, KK, Sandakan and Kudat.
The best thing is, no need to pay entrance/competition fees. First day of competition was on Wednesday, after their games, each player had a goodie bag. Which made up off, 1 x shoe bag, 1x towel, 1x tube of golf balls, 1 competition t-shirt and 1 cap. Value of all the things was about RM160.
During the welcoming dinner, also got lucky draws. (Will post up the photos once i loaded it up ). One lucky kid who did not play well during the first day, won the big prize for the nite, a golf bag...junior size bag.
Final day of competition was on Thursday, during the prize giving, there were 75 prizes for the lucky draw (89 players). Major prize was a mountain bike (which was supposed to meant for hole - in - one). 50 of the lucky draw gifts is a golf marker plus pitch thingy with the US Open 2008, San Diego Torrey Pines logo.
The patron of the competition was in US this year for the junior world competition in San Diego, he bought 50 of the 'souvenirs' to be given away as lucky draw for this competition. With the aim of hoping one junior golfer will make it there in the US.
During the prize giving, every body got something to bring back. Some won two lucky draws (welcoming dinner and prize giving time). Those whose name was not called, also got umbrellas to bring back. No junior golfer went back empty handed.
And to top it off, the big guy up there has been very kind, on Monday and Tuesday...heavy rain. But on Wednesday...no rain at all ...on Thursday...only a bit of rain and cloudy. Before the competition, the weather was the main worry for the organizers.
A lot of parents and players commented that it was the best competition they
ever attended. Even got video shooting, at the golf course, welcoming dinner and prize presentation time. No entrance fee and yet good goodie bag and lucky draw gifts.
How did all these came about?
A lot of members in my club fully supports the patron's and club vision for the junior golf programe. Any time the club ask for sponsors, they gladly give. Either their own children are playing, grand children are playing or friend's children who play the game. They gladly give back to the junior programe. Some even pick the players and parents from the airport to hotel, from hotel to club.
Any way, it was great seeing the kids playing the game. Oh ya, my brother won group B's nett competition. His handicap was 20, final day he played 82, so 82-20 = 62. He play under for his handicap. Will see a new handicap for him by next monday. Hopefully with this win, will spur his motivation to improve himself. Who knows may be next year he will get to go to World Junior Competition in the US.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Tiger Woods - Player of the year.
Tiger Woods wins Tour Championship… and $US11m
by Andrew Both
Tiger Woods has shot the lowest score of his illustrious career in blowing away the field to win the Tour Championship by eight strokes in Atlanta.
Woods led throughout the final round, carding a four-under-par 66 in pleasant conditions at East Lake in the final event of the new FedEx Cup play-off series.
He finished at 23-under 257, two strokes better than his previous best total of 21-under 259 at the 2000 NEC Invitational.
Woods also smashed the Tour Championship record low score, at the same time securing his fourth victory in his past five starts and emphatically clinching the FedEx Cup title.
And he posted his 61st victory on the US PGA Tour, remaining fifth on the all-time list, just one behind Arnold Palmer.
“It’s been just a phenomenal week. I just hit shot after shot and when I got on the greens my speed was good all week,” he said.
Woods started the final round with a three-shot edge over Calcavecchia, and was a little shaky early, with a bogey at the par-3 second followed by a three-metre par save at No.3.
However, he found his groove from there, picking up three birdies in four holes starting at No.6 to go four shots clear at the turn.
The back nine was pretty much a lap of honour, as he added three more birdies before bogeying the 17th, which did not stop him from shattering the tournament record by no fewer than six strokes.
Woods not only collected $US10 million ($A12 million) for winning the FedEx Cup, but also received $US1.26 million ($A1.51 million) for winning the tournament.
Woods decided after a mediocre performance at the British Open in July to alter his swing, and spent the following week at home working on the changes.
When he turned up at the Bridgestone Invitational the following week, his revamped swing was the talk of the range.
Astute judges said it looked better than ever, and so it has proved as he has finished no worse than second since.
Woods will play only twice more the rest of the year - at next week’s Presidents Cup in Canada, as well as his own unofficial tournament in California in December.
His peers can only hope he doesn’t bring his current form into 2008, or they will have no chance.
By Andrew Both - © 2007 AAP
Following are some of the American’s highlights since he turned professional in 1996.
* Becomes the youngest Masters winner with a tournament record aggregate of 18-under-par 270 at Augusta National in 1997. His victory margin of 12 shots is the biggest in the tournament’s history.
* After a lean spell in 1998, when he revamps his swing with coach Butch Harmon, Woods wins eight titles in a golden run on the 1999 PGA tour, including his second major at the PGA Championship where he holds off a charging Sergio Garcia.
* In 2000, Woods produces one of the most successful seasons in golfing history. Romps to victory by a record 15 strokes in the US Open, coasts home by eight shots in the British Open and claims his second PGA Championship.
Becomes the fifth and youngest player to win a career grand slam of all four majors. Ends the year with nine titles on the PGA Tour, having completed his sixth in a row at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February.
* Wins his second Masters in 2001 to become the first player to hold all four professional major titles at the same time.
* In 2004, he fails to win a major for the second year in a row after embarking on the second revamp of his swing since turning professional. Breaks Greg Norman’s record for most weeks as world number one with a combined tally of 332 but his five-year reign at the top finally ends in September when Fijian Vijay Singh takes over.
* One year later, Woods wins his fourth Masters title and his second British Open. Reclaims world No.1 ranking in June and has held it ever since.
* Has an emotional 2006, having to deal with the illness and death in May of his father Earl. After tying for third at the Masters in April, he takes a nine-week break before missing the cut in the US Open on his return, the first time he has done that in a major as a professional. Comes back to win the last two majors of the year, the British Open at Hoylake and the PGA Championship at Medinah. Ends 2006 with 11 titles worldwide, including six in a row on the PGA Tour.
* In his first start of 2007, claims the Buick Invitational by two shots at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California to stretch his PGA Tour winning streak to seven, the second best in history.
* Cruises to an eight-shot victory in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio on August 5, his 14th individual title in a World Golf Championships (WGC) event.
* One week later, Woods clinches his 13th major and fourth US PGA Championship by two shots at Southern Hills Country Club. Only Jack Nicklaus, with a record 18 career majors, lies ahead of him.
* Wins his 61st PGA Tour title by eight strokes at the Tour Championship after closing with a four-under-par 66, plus a $US10 million ($A12 million) bonus as the inaugural FedExCup champion.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Tiger Woods did it again..
Tiger woods did it again. Coming from behind to win by 2 strokes. His never give up attitude is what separate him from others. At the age of 31, already won 60 competitions which includes 13 major titles. At the moment, he is The Man in golf.
LEMONT, Ill. -- Remove yourself from all the hype and hysteria surrounding the FedEx Cup. Forget about playoffs and Player of the Year awards and piles of cash. Consider the number 60.
It used to be pretty special in baseball, and remains so in golf.
Tiger Woods does not swat home runs, but he does pile up the PGA Tour hardware. And his victory Sunday at the BMW Championship means that one version of golf's Mount Rushmore will have to make room for the man who threatens to break every meaningful record in the game.
Woods matched the tournament 18-hole record by shooting an 8-under 63 at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, becoming the first player to do so twice. He posted the lowest four-day total (262) in 104 years of tournament competition -- which beat the previous mark by five strokes. He won the tournament that used to be known as the Western Open for the fifth time, just one behind Walter Hagen.
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Woods has now won five times at Cog Hill.
And he joined Sam Snead (82), Jack Nicklaus (73), Ben Hogan (64) and Arnold Palmer (62) among those with 60 victories or more in PGA Tour events.
All at age 31.
Even Woods, master of the routine, never one to be overly impressed with himself, acknowledged it is pretty special.
"I never, ever would have dreamt that this could have happened this soon," Woods said. "I've been out here, what, 11 years? This is my 12th season. And to have this many wins ... I just never could have foreseen that.
"I've exceeded my expectations and it's been a lot of fun to enjoy that whole road, that whole process, to get to 60. It's been a lot of work. There have been some changes along the way, you know? But I think that's all been great."
There have been swing changes and equipment changes. He got married, lost a father and brought a child into the world.
But other than a few brief dry periods along the way, not much changes when it comes to winning. Nobody does it better -- or more often -- than Woods. He now has won at least six times in a season five times. This year, four of his six wins have come at the biggest tournaments -- a major (PGA Championship), two World Golf Championship events (CA Championship and Bridgestone Invitational) and now a playoff event.
And his other two victories came at two of the more popular regular tour events, the Buick Invitational and Wachovia Championship.
Perhaps just as remarkable as his number of victories is the speed with which he got there. Nicklaus was 36 years old when he won his 60th title in 1976. Palmer was 41 in 1971 when he won for the 60th time. Woods could take the next five years off and still be on pace to surpass Nicklaus, Hogan and Palmer.
Or, as Justin Rose put it, "I'd have to win 15 times a year for the next four years to get there by the time I'm 31."
Rose played with Woods on Sunday and witnessed a clinic. Trailing by one when the day began, Woods made four birdies on the front nine but could not wrestle the lead away from Aaron Baddeley and Steve Stricker. When he failed to birdie the par-4 10th and the relatively easy par-5 11th, Woods simply became more determined and birdied four of the next five holes. And nobody could catch him.
For the tournament, Woods was third in the field in driving accuracy at more than 80 percent -- a scary proposition when you consider how wayward his drives can be at times. He also never had a three-putt and played just three out of 72 holes over par.
"You could just see him suddenly go into another gear," Rose said. "His focus was on to another level."
It is doubtful that Woods has ever fixed much of a gaze on the highly-promoted FedEx Cup race. He led the points standings for much of the year, stayed away from the first playoff event and fell to fourth in the standings, finished second to Phil Mickelson last week at the Deutsche Bank Championship and watched Lefty ascend to the top spot, and now has it all to himself.
There will no doubt be some fallout from the fact that Woods could be in position to win the $10-million retirement bonus that goes to the winner of the Cup without playing all four tournaments. And he has rendered this week's Tour Championship at East Lake a virtual money grab for all but four other players. Only Stricker, Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini and K.J. Choi will have an opportunity to overtake Woods to win the FedEx Cup.
Given his penchant for paying attention to detail, however, you can bet that Woods will know what he has to do this week to be the inaugural FedEx Cup champion.
Then again, the best way to get there is the only way Woods wants to get there.
"Winning takes care of everything," he said.
And nobody knows that better than Woods.
Bob Harig is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=harig_bob&id=3012258
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Golf game...
Last night have been raining almost the whole night. Thought the golf game with my bro will be cancelled. Recently have been trying to play at least one round of golf with him. So that he can improve his game (indirectly mine too..hehe)
Rained until about 6am. Woke up about 7 something, a bit sunny but some area very cloudy. We went out around 8:15am, went for breakfast, reach the golf course...cloudy. We took a chance....played for about 4 holes started to rain. Skipped one hole and reach the half way house to get some shelter. Waited for more then half and hour, rain stop.
So we continue our game, after 3 holes, rain again. My bro said lets go home, raining again. So ok, we skip the final hole, reach the club house, cleaned out clubs...pack everything, my bro got the next 9 holes voucher, so can still use it next time (rain check thingy). The rain stop and the sun came up. haha...by then the mood to continue the other 9 hole already gone. So we went to the driving range to hit few shots.
Any way, i would like to wish all of you a wonderful weekend with your love ones.
Take care and God bless.
Rained until about 6am. Woke up about 7 something, a bit sunny but some area very cloudy. We went out around 8:15am, went for breakfast, reach the golf course...cloudy. We took a chance....played for about 4 holes started to rain. Skipped one hole and reach the half way house to get some shelter. Waited for more then half and hour, rain stop.
So we continue our game, after 3 holes, rain again. My bro said lets go home, raining again. So ok, we skip the final hole, reach the club house, cleaned out clubs...pack everything, my bro got the next 9 holes voucher, so can still use it next time (rain check thingy). The rain stop and the sun came up. haha...by then the mood to continue the other 9 hole already gone. So we went to the driving range to hit few shots.
Any way, i would like to wish all of you a wonderful weekend with your love ones.
Take care and God bless.
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