Why Tiger Has Already Won
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by Nejoshi
Tiger Woods’ disappointing performances in the majors of 2007 may soon be coming to an end. A terrific, record-breaking round of 63 puts the world’s best golfer at the top of the leaderboard of the PGA Championship, golf’s final major. Looking at Woods’ track record, he has, in essence, already clinched his 133h major.
The last seven times Woods has had the lead midway through a major championship, he has walked away with the trophy. With a comfortable two shot lead and a bunch of nobodies – Geoff Ogilvy is the only golfer in the top 10 with anything impressive on his resume -- surrounding him, it is a near certainty that he will make it eight.
None of the competitors around Woods seem to have much conviction that they can/will be able to mount the kind of comeback that is necessary to overtake the best to ever play the game either. The game’s greats have failed miserably at providing any resistance anytime Woods’ name has been near the top, and does anyone really think that it will start now with Scott Verplank and Stephen Ames in the last two pairings?
Woods said after his unimpressive 71 on Thursday that he shot the ball much better than his mediocre score indicated, and didn’t look particularly fazed by his early round four shot deficit. His description was spot on during his second round as he torched the course at Southern Hills like few players ever have in a major. Woods could have easily broken the record that 20 other players have by posting a 62, but his approach on 18 just barely missed going in, instead lipping out of the cup for an easy putt to finish the memorable round.
Woods had had a couple of near misses during the year’s earlier Grand Slams, finishing second in the year’s first two majors. Many were questioning whether he could come back from a deficit to win a major due to his inability to make the necessary shots to mount a comeback. However, no one has questioned his abilities as a front-runner, and his sterling accomplishments at the top of the leaderboard speak for themselves.
In all 12 of his major victories, Woods has entered the final Sunday with at least a share of the lead and has built his reputation by nailing down victories by showing no mercy while he’s ahead. Woods is in that position now, and could be on his way to a blowout victory.
Woods began his 2nd round surge quickly, birdying the first hole to quickly move to even par for the championship, and then went on to accumulate six more birdies against only one bogey during a 12-hole stretch from #4 to #15. By that point, he had reached -6, and was in position to shoot below a 63 in a major championship for the first time in history.
Although Woods only managed to shoot par over the last three holes, it was hard to find a silver lining for the rest of the field. The only thing between Woods and the Wanamaker Trophy is 36 holes of golf, and come Sunday afternoon, one can bet the house that the only drama on the back nine is what Woods’ winning score will be.
