TARGET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - 2007
Well, the Tiger did it again! After a 10 week layoff, he roared back for another W. Did anyone expect the layoff to make a difference?
To quote Colin Montgomerie, “If he took a bloody year off, it wouldn't help. Never mind 10 weeks.”
At the final golf tournament of the year Sunday, he closed with a 4-under 68 to match the tournament record at the Target World Challenge and set a record for the largest margin of victory by seven shots over runner up and Masters Champion Zack Johnson.
Johnson closed with a 68, but the only challenge came from Jim Furyk.
Jim Furyk put the pressure on Tiger for two days straight and almost caught him on the front nine Sunday. Tiger had made some mistakes and was now sitting only 2 up.
On ten, Furyk hit a wedge with no spin to about 4 feet above the flag. Woods hit a wedge that spun back 12 feet below the cup where he made birdie. Jim's birdie putt slid by the cup and rolled 4 feet by. Unbelievably, his par putt missed and the Tiger was back to a 4 shot lead.
Tiger later remarked, "Jimmy put a ton of heat on me on the front nine," But the whole tournament switched on the 10th. That was a big two-shot swing there."
But the par 3 15th ended Jim's surge. On Saturday, he had been 3 back from the lead when his 6-iron off the tee found the water for a double bogey. On Sunday, Tiger pulled out his 6-iron and landed nicely on the green. Jim had his 5-iron in his hand, but after Tiger's shot, Jim put the 5 in the bag and took out his six-iron. That's when I scrunched down on the couch and moaned, “Good grief Jim! That will probably put you into the water again.” It did! Another double...
Jim lost his momentum and Zach Johnson gained his. Zach put his putt in the hole for birdie at 18 to ensure his second place finish at 15 under.
Woods finished at 22-under 266, tying the tournament record first set by Davis Love III in 2000. He earned $1.35 million, which he will donate to his Tiger Woods Foundation.
Johnson earned $840,000 for second. and Furyk closed with a 71 finishing third and earning $570,000.
From the start, none of the players expressed doubt as to the outcome of the tourney. At the end there was only one other topic of conversation --- Did Rory Sabbatini make it safely to Hawaii? At the end of Saturday, Rory was 28 shots back. He was nowhere to be found on Sunday. He had withdrawn for “personal reasons.” When angry players demanded an explanation, Rory's agent said he had shin splints. Players complained and Tiger said he is going to get to the bottom of it. Rory's pay check for last place is $170,000.
What do you think? Will he be invited back next year?
So ends the 2007 season. See you at the Mercedes Benz on January 3rd...
