BETHESDA (USA): The flight of his shot into the 18th green was so pure that Tiger Woods immediately started walking and twirled his club, knowing that it effectively wrapped up another win at the National. Making it even more special was the sound of thousands of fans at Congressional to see it.
One day after spectators were kept away from the golf course because of debris from a violent wind storm, they returned on Sunday in full force and got what they expected – Woods in his red shirt and posing with another trophy.
”Yesterday was a silent day,” Woods said. ”I think everyone saved up for today. What an atmosphere to play in front of.”
It was the 74th win of his career, moving him past Jack Nicklaus into second place on the PGA Tour, eight short of Sam Snead’s record.
Not bad for a guy who only five months ago walked off the course at Doral with another injury to his left Achilles tendon.
”I remember there was a time when people were saying I could never win again,” Woods said.
And this win puts him in a position to reclaim no. one over the final two majors of the year (he is currently no. four).
Van Pelt made him work for it.
Three times, Woods took the outright lead in the final round. Each time, Van Pelt made a birdie of his own to catch him. The tournament was decided on the last three holes, and it featured a surprising turn of events.
Both golfers were guilty of unforced errors, but on the 17th, Van Pelt caught a flier from the first cut of rough and the ball shot over the green and near the grandstand, leaving him an impossible chip. He hit through the green and had to scramble to make bogey, and Woods took the outright lead for the third time all day – this time for good.
He made a 6-foot par putt, taking a one-shot lead to the 18th, and played it to perfection.
In the final hour, it was clear this would come down to Woods and Van Pelt – one player with more than 70 career wins and another guy whose only official PGA Tour win came in Milwaukee, a tournament that no longer exists.
On the golf course, they looked far more equal than their records indicate.
”He’s an amazing player,” Van Pelt said. ”We’ve known each other a long time, probably 20 years. He’s fun to play with. That’s why you travel 30 weeks a year, why you get up in the morning and you the sacrifices that you do, to have the opportunity to play the best player in the world in the final round with a chance to win.” (AP)