Woods leads the pack at PGAs
Woods leads the pack at PGAs
CHASKA, Minn. -- Tiger Woods has won 14 majors. He’s never won one from behind. But he’s never lost when he’s been ahead after 54 holes, either.
Today at Hazeltine National, where he finished second by one in the 2002 PGA, Tiger saw his lead get cut in half at the final major of this season. He was ahead by four after Friday’s second round. After shooting a 1-under par 71, he’s now up by only two. But he’s still in front at the 91st PGA.
And in the past, that’s all that’s mattered.
“You have to enjoy being in this position,” he said. “It means you’re not playing poorly.
“There’s something to be said for being able to say, ‘I’ve gotten it done before.’ You understand how to do it. You just have to replicate it again.”
Woods, who’s trying to win his first major in 14 months, got done just before the rains came. He’s at 8-under 208. Y.E. Yang (who fired a 67) and defending champion Padraig Harrington (69) are two back, followed by Henrik Stenson (68) and Lucas Glover (71) at 212, who won the U.S. Open in June.
Ernie Els, who had it to 6-under before finishing with three bogeys for a 70, is at 213 with Soren Kjeldsen (70).
Woods is going for his third victory in as many weeks. Last Sunday, he rallied from three down to beat Harrington at the Bridgestone Invitational World Golf Championship. The two also played together in the first two rounds here. But Tiger will go out with Yang in the final pairing tomorrow, with Harrington just ahead.
In the last 13 PGAs, the winner has come from the last group.
Woods has won this thing four times, including the last two times that he’s played in it. Last August, he was sidelined while recovering from reconstructive left-knee surgery when Harrington closed with two 66s to win by two over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis at Oakland Hills.
Only Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have won this major five times. Tiger is trying to win a major for the fifth consecutive season, something even Nicklaus never did.
The last year that he went into the PGA having not won a major, in 2007, he won by two at Southern Hills. After leading by two at the end of three rounds.
“With my lead, I could error on the side of caution (today),” said Woods, who had three birdies, none on any of the four par 5’s, and two bogeys. “Paddy really believes in himself, and his game. He played himself right back in the tournament. It’s going to be a fun day tomorrow. I hope we can get it in. A lot depends on the weather. It’s supposed to be bad. I’m not sure quite how bad.”
There is a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. If the event that play is unable to start at 7:36 in the morning, the starting times may be adjusted. If this is done, they may even have to re-pair an dplay in threesomes, with starting times on the first and 10th tees from approximately 10:50-1 p.m.
“I know guys can put up good numbers,” Woods went on. “Obviously, I have to play well tomorrow. The last two days, I hit the ball pretty good. I’m in the same boat as everyone else. I’ve got to go out and make shots.”
But Harrington, who’s only two wins in the last two years happened to be majors, understands the reality.
On Thursday, he said the last thing you wanted to do was spot Tiger a three-shot advantage heading into the last day.
“It’s a new game tomorrow,” he said. “I think everyone’s been aware of Tiger’s reputation since he was two. I suppose he’s still the man to beat. That’s good, because it gives you something to shoot at, obviously. I suppose it’s easy for us in that situation, because we have nothing to lose. Everybody expects it’s going to be him, so we get a free run at it.
“I’m just going to have to do my thing. If you’re playing with him, it’s kind of a bit like match play. I have to stick with my own game, and see what happens there. I would rather (play with him). I think it would suit me better. I think I will get into it and hopefully raise my game.
“The narrower the gap, the better. Obviously to get a win, you have to beat him by three tomorrow. That’s a tall order. You’ve got to have the attitude that certainly not to be in any shape or form cautious.”
Harrington, whose lone bogey came at No. 18, noted that he had a lot of support from the crowd yesterday.
“I get the impression that there’s a lot of people who are cheering me on wanting me to push him along, but they still want Tiger to win,” he explained. “So be it. That’s fine with me. I’ll serve my time. They want to see a battle. Everyone wants the underdog to catch up, but ultimately they want the hero to win, as usual. That’s the way all the storybooks are written and all that sort of stuff. It’s part of our human nature, up until a certain point. They don’t want to see him win by three or four shots. They want him to be tested, and to show his skills, and I’m happy to fill that role.
“You never know what happens over the last nine holes.”
Vijay Singh was paired with Tiger yesterday. The 2004 PGA champ shot 75.
Yang, a 37-year-old Korean, is playing in his third PGA. His best finish was a tie for 47th in 2005. He did win the Honda Classic early in the season, his first PGA Tour win, then played poorly in his next 11 events. But he hasn’t been out of the top 19 in his last three starts.
“It’s a privilege to be listed on top with those names,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be playing as good tomorrow, so I’ll have my name on that board tomorrow as well. You never know in the world of sports and the game of golf. I may even win the PGA Championship.
“With Woods, he’s won 70 times now. I’ve only won once, so it’s sort of 70-to-1 odds. Might as well go for broke. I believe in luck. And it’s certainly been a lucky year so far. That helps a lot with your confidence. I sort of wanted a taste of victory again. Hopefully I’ll reap the benefits this week.”
TAP-INS: West Chester native Jim Furyk shot 73, for a 221. West Chester resident Sean O’Hair shot 82, for 229. He will still be one of the 10 automatic qualifiers for the President’s Cup team that will take on the non-European part of the world next month in San Francisco. It’ll be his first such appearance.
Today at Hazeltine National, where he finished second by one in the 2002 PGA, Tiger saw his lead get cut in half at the final major of this season. He was ahead by four after Friday’s second round. After shooting a 1-under par 71, he’s now up by only two. But he’s still in front at the 91st PGA.
And in the past, that’s all that’s mattered.
“You have to enjoy being in this position,” he said. “It means you’re not playing poorly.
“There’s something to be said for being able to say, ‘I’ve gotten it done before.’ You understand how to do it. You just have to replicate it again.”
Woods, who’s trying to win his first major in 14 months, got done just before the rains came. He’s at 8-under 208. Y.E. Yang (who fired a 67) and defending champion Padraig Harrington (69) are two back, followed by Henrik Stenson (68) and Lucas Glover (71) at 212, who won the U.S. Open in June.
Ernie Els, who had it to 6-under before finishing with three bogeys for a 70, is at 213 with Soren Kjeldsen (70).
Woods is going for his third victory in as many weeks. Last Sunday, he rallied from three down to beat Harrington at the Bridgestone Invitational World Golf Championship. The two also played together in the first two rounds here. But Tiger will go out with Yang in the final pairing tomorrow, with Harrington just ahead.
In the last 13 PGAs, the winner has come from the last group.
Woods has won this thing four times, including the last two times that he’s played in it. Last August, he was sidelined while recovering from reconstructive left-knee surgery when Harrington closed with two 66s to win by two over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis at Oakland Hills.
Only Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have won this major five times. Tiger is trying to win a major for the fifth consecutive season, something even Nicklaus never did.
The last year that he went into the PGA having not won a major, in 2007, he won by two at Southern Hills. After leading by two at the end of three rounds.
“With my lead, I could error on the side of caution (today),” said Woods, who had three birdies, none on any of the four par 5’s, and two bogeys. “Paddy really believes in himself, and his game. He played himself right back in the tournament. It’s going to be a fun day tomorrow. I hope we can get it in. A lot depends on the weather. It’s supposed to be bad. I’m not sure quite how bad.”
There is a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. If the event that play is unable to start at 7:36 in the morning, the starting times may be adjusted. If this is done, they may even have to re-pair an dplay in threesomes, with starting times on the first and 10th tees from approximately 10:50-1 p.m.
“I know guys can put up good numbers,” Woods went on. “Obviously, I have to play well tomorrow. The last two days, I hit the ball pretty good. I’m in the same boat as everyone else. I’ve got to go out and make shots.”
But Harrington, who’s only two wins in the last two years happened to be majors, understands the reality.
On Thursday, he said the last thing you wanted to do was spot Tiger a three-shot advantage heading into the last day.
“It’s a new game tomorrow,” he said. “I think everyone’s been aware of Tiger’s reputation since he was two. I suppose he’s still the man to beat. That’s good, because it gives you something to shoot at, obviously. I suppose it’s easy for us in that situation, because we have nothing to lose. Everybody expects it’s going to be him, so we get a free run at it.
“I’m just going to have to do my thing. If you’re playing with him, it’s kind of a bit like match play. I have to stick with my own game, and see what happens there. I would rather (play with him). I think it would suit me better. I think I will get into it and hopefully raise my game.
“The narrower the gap, the better. Obviously to get a win, you have to beat him by three tomorrow. That’s a tall order. You’ve got to have the attitude that certainly not to be in any shape or form cautious.”
Harrington, whose lone bogey came at No. 18, noted that he had a lot of support from the crowd yesterday.
“I get the impression that there’s a lot of people who are cheering me on wanting me to push him along, but they still want Tiger to win,” he explained. “So be it. That’s fine with me. I’ll serve my time. They want to see a battle. Everyone wants the underdog to catch up, but ultimately they want the hero to win, as usual. That’s the way all the storybooks are written and all that sort of stuff. It’s part of our human nature, up until a certain point. They don’t want to see him win by three or four shots. They want him to be tested, and to show his skills, and I’m happy to fill that role.
“You never know what happens over the last nine holes.”
Vijay Singh was paired with Tiger yesterday. The 2004 PGA champ shot 75.
Yang, a 37-year-old Korean, is playing in his third PGA. His best finish was a tie for 47th in 2005. He did win the Honda Classic early in the season, his first PGA Tour win, then played poorly in his next 11 events. But he hasn’t been out of the top 19 in his last three starts.
“It’s a privilege to be listed on top with those names,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be playing as good tomorrow, so I’ll have my name on that board tomorrow as well. You never know in the world of sports and the game of golf. I may even win the PGA Championship.
“With Woods, he’s won 70 times now. I’ve only won once, so it’s sort of 70-to-1 odds. Might as well go for broke. I believe in luck. And it’s certainly been a lucky year so far. That helps a lot with your confidence. I sort of wanted a taste of victory again. Hopefully I’ll reap the benefits this week.”
TAP-INS: West Chester native Jim Furyk shot 73, for a 221. West Chester resident Sean O’Hair shot 82, for 229. He will still be one of the 10 automatic qualifiers for the President’s Cup team that will take on the non-European part of the world next month in San Francisco. It’ll be his first such appearance.
