Tiger Woods has defined his career in terms of major championship victories, and in turn they have defined him. Some wins have been monuments to his power, as when he obliterated the old Augusta National in 1997, and others have been tributes to his precision, such as the 2000 British Open, when he navigated the heaving earth of the Old Course without hitting into a single bunker. Woods has separated himself with clutch putting, as at the ‘06 PGA Championship when he canned a pair of 40-footers early in the final round, and he has dazzled as a tactician, taking apart Southern Hills one little swing at a time at the ‘07 PGA.
Woods’s unique skill set was on display again at last week’s U.S. Open, but this victory was more visceral. It was all heart. (more…)
Despite missing playoff by one stroke, Brit leaves Torrey riding wave of confidence
Sorry, Westy,” Tiger Woods said to Lee Westwood, patting him on the back as they passed each other Sunday evening near the interview podium behind the 18th green at Torrey Pines. While Woods went off to prepare for his Monday playoff, Westwood was whisked away by his manager Chubby Chandler, who had a helicopter on standby to take him to the airport for his flight home to England.
“Tiger is amazing,” Westwood said. “He is obviously struggling with his knee, but he still finds a way to get it ’round.”
While Westwood matched Tiger on Sunday with a 73, he fell one shot short of the playoff with Woods and Rocco Mediate. That would be a potentially crushing disappointment for many golfers. But not for Westwood. The 35-year-old’s third-place Open finish is a major step forward in a remarkable comeback.
“I feel a bit sick not to make the playoff,” Westwood said Sunday, “but my performance this week shows me that I can win a major. And I am delighted with how my short game held up under pressure, and I am pleased with myself. I felt pretty calm out there, a little bit nervous, a few butterflies, but I thought I stuck in there well. It is just very fine margins. (more…)
It was ten seconds that shook the Open. That’s how long it took for an eagle putt by Tiger Woods to traverse the 75 feet or so from the back of the 13th green to the bottom of the cup. The eagle propelled Tiger back into red numbers — players roosting there were an endangered species Saturday at Torrey Pines — and announced what we already knew: Woods isn’t giving up his dance with destiny without a fight to the last.
That roar was one that may live forever in Torrey Pines history, at least if Woods goes on to win the U.S. Open. Then again, it was nearly matched within the hour when Woods lofted a high pitch from left of the 17th green and watched it one-bounce into the cup for birdie. As another thunderous roar erupted from an electrified gallery, Woods grinned with his head down. It may yet prove to be a significant shot in historical terms but it was a fortunate accident and Woods acknowledged that. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he said later. “I was thinking, don’t make a 6, and I made a 3.”
If that wasn’t enough, there was the little matter of a 40-foot eagle putt on the last green, a stroke of genius that gave Woods the lead by himself heading into the final round. Another stunning turn, another raucous ovation, another Tiger miracle. If you don’t believe in destiny after those three shots Saturday, you’d better reconsider.
Though Rocco Mediate held the Open lead for most of the third round, Saturday ultimately belonged to Woods, who flat-out hijacked the tournament over the last six holes with two eagles and a birdie for a one-under-par 70.
As if his play wasn’t dramatic enough, Woods added a human element to the drama, too. He struggled after that galvanizing eagle at the 13th hole, flinching on his surgically repaired left knee and flaring several tee shots down the stretch because of it. After a painful miss on the 17th tee, Woods hobbled in a small circle before limping down the fairway. (more…)
Tiger Woods remains confident he will be a competitive force when the U.S. Open begins at Torrey Pines on Thursday, despite not having played a full round of golf as he recovers from knee surgery.
Woods restricted himself to just nine holes again in practice on Tuesday and has not even walked a full 18 holes since the final round of the Masters at Augusta.
But the world number one shrugged off concerns about his troublesome left knee:
“It’s a little sore, but not anything I haven’t dealt with before,” he said. (more…)
The focus fell to golf’s biggest stars, with fans crammed together a dozen deep in spots at Torrey Pines to see how Tiger Woods dealt with a tender knee and whether Phil Mickelson could overcome so much U.S. Open heartache in his hometown.
The lead belonged to the obscure.
Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks, neither among the top 600 in the world ranking, each shot 3-under 68 on Thursday to borrow the spotlight and take a one-shot lead in the opening round of a U.S. Open that showed a slightly softer side.
They were among 11 players who broke par at Torrey Pines, after only two were in red numbers after the first round last year.
Woods and Mickelson were not among them, then or now. (more…)
Top TEN LIST U.S Open Contenders by their earnings in 2008 up top June 11, 2008, are:
1. Tiger Woods with total earnings is $ 4,425,000. His last tournament log is The Masters on April 10-13, 2008
2. Phil Mickelson with total earnings is $3,872,270 up to June 11, 2008. His last tournament log is Memorial Tournament on May 29-June 01, 2008. (more…)
Torrey Pines in San Diego, California, is the venue for the 2008 US Open golf tournament. Torrey Pines consists of a North and a South course. The South course is known as the more difficult of the two, and was thus the first choice for the US Open venue, as this golf tournament favours courses of a more difficult nature.
If Masters champion Trevor Immelman was not preparing to play a few hours later, he almost certainly would be among the masses expected to gather around the first tee and down both sides of the fairway at Torrey Pines South this morning to watch a pairing for the ages in the opening round of the 108th U.S. Open.The U.S. Golf Association announced last week that Tiger Woods, No. 1 in the world rankings, Phil Mickelson, No. 2, and Adam Scott, No. 3, would play the first 36 holes of the national championship together. It is a dream threesome that also seems likely to create crowd control issues as the golfers make their way around this seaside course.
“I would think a hundred percent of the fans will be following them,” Immelman said Tuesday.
At the moment, the health of Woods, winner of 64 PGA Tour events and 13 major titles, remains something of a mystery. He will play tournament golf this week for the first time since he underwent surgery April 15 on his left knee to repair cartilage damage, two days after he finished second in the Masters. He hasn’t walked an 18-hole round since the operation, and only time will tell how well his knee will hold up on the 7,643-yard course, the longest ever at a U.S. Open.
The 2008 US Open golf tournament begins on Thursday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in California. The year’s second major features a far larger field than its predecessor, the Masters, and promises to deliver one of the most open contests witnessed in years.
All eyes will, of course, be on world number one Tiger Woods, who has been priced as 11/4 tournament favourite by William Hill. Whilst Woods is unbeatable when in top form, questions will be asked of his fitness coming in to the event after knee surgery and a two month lay-off from professional golf.
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