As Tiger stuns fans with spectacular win number 80!
An English golfer woke up in America ten million dollars richer this morning. And no, he hadn’t just won the lottery. Thirty-eight year old Justin Rose, the reigning Olympic Golf Champion, who also recently became World Number One, collected this colossal bonus for winning the FedExCup Play-offs in Georgia at the weekend.
Featuring the best thirty players on the PGA Tour this season, the final event of the FedExCup Play-offs took place at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta (20-23 September). It proved a spectacular climax to the PGA of America’s end of season showdown. Rose went head-to-head with Tiger Woods. America’s hero showed that he is well and truly back in business by becoming the Tour Championship winner and very nearly walking-off with the FedEx Cup title too. Yes, Tiger is hot and firing on all cylinders.
On Saturday, Tiger opened with six birdies in the first seven holes to storm ahead of the field on 13-under par and so leave his playing partner, Justin Rose trailing by five shots after a few holes. Woods dropped a shot at the 16th to sleep on a 4-stroke cushion over Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland.
Tiger sailing along on a breeze
Woods was fast out of the starting blocks on Sunday carding a birdie at the first to increase his lead to five strokes again. Victory looked a piece of cake for the former World Number One who then just sailed along on a breeze with steady pars. Few players showed any signs of challenging him on the first nine. Although Rose did birdie the 8th only to then bogey the next.
Tiger was out in 34 and still leading by five. Then suddenly everything changed. A wild drive at the 10th saw Tiger make bogey and drop back to 12-under. There was hope after all for the chasing pack who were bunched-up on 6-under just two adrift of Rose in second place.
Pressure building on Rose
America’s Billy Horschel then made his move getting to 8-under to pile the pressure on Rose. The scenario experts were busy calculating the Englishman’s chances. He needed to finish within the top-5 with a projected score of 7-under par in order to win the FedExCup rankings was their conclusion at this point.
The back-nine saw the tournament really come alive and the winner scenarios change by the minute. Dustin Johnson was back in the picture too. The pressure was really building on Rose who continually struggled to find the fairway with his drives on Sunday.
“Tiger! Tiger!”
Hysterical fans at East Lake GC warming-up for this week’s Ryder Cup, no doubt!
Horschel then became clubhouse leader at 9-under. Woods maintained his position as leader out on the course. He was 12-under with three holes to play. An untimely bogey at the 16th saw Rose drop back to 5-under for the tournament. He looked to certain to pull one back at the next only to stare in disbelief as his birdie putt pulled-up a few centimetres short. Moments later, Woods suffered a similar fate at the 16th and reduce his lead to two. It was all or nothing for the Olympic Champion Rose down the last. He gathered all his focus and determination and finally struck lucky.
Rose strikes lucky at crucial moment
The Englishman’s second shot bounced over the bunker and took a hop and a jump toward the green leaving him with a chance of making an eagle from about 10 meters. The experts were in agreement. Rose needed to two-putt from here (a birdie) for a share of fourth place in the Tour Championship which would give him victory in the FedExCup rankings. And that is exactly what he did. A wee tap-in putt for birdie earned Justin Rose the stylish sterling silver FedExCup trophy designed and crafted by Tiffany & Co, along with the mighty 10 million dollar bonus.
While the crowds cheered Rose graciously, they were also looking back up the 18th fairway for their American golf hero. By this time, the fans were loud. Very loud. We’re talking hysterical ‘Ryder Cup’ loud.
Tiger had just bogeyed 15 and 16, either through fatigue or nerves. The former World Number One was looking in need of some support from the fans. And they didn’t disappoint him. Once their final approach shots had been played at the last an ocean of fans were let loose down the fairway. Everyone running ahead with great excitement to circle the green and witness the final showdown.
Tiger must have felt the overwhelming energy and emotion of the fans. He admitted afterwards that he knew that he was safe once he was on the green. Yet although he had a two-shot cushion, he still had to tell himself to stay focussed. Two putts for par would seal victory for him. His tap-in putt for par unleashed uncontrollable cheers of delight from the crowds. The golf phenomenon Tiger Woods was back. This Tour Championship victory is the 80th of his illustrious career on the PGA Tour. More important than that, it is a victory that he had never dared dream of from the dark place he had been the last few years.
“It was a grind, but I loved every minute of it!”
Tiger Woods talking about his 80th victory on the PGA Tour
Yes, unbelievably, Tiger is back at the top of his game which is truly amazing when you consider that this time last year he had only just been given permission to start chipping again after his latest back operation. Perhaps he was ultimately inspired by the Ryder Cup wild card he received for the bi-annual clash with Europe which takes place in Paris later this week?
Justin Rose and Tiger Woods – we salute you! Hearty congratulations to you both and we look forward to you guys meeting again in Paris. Let the Ryder Cup begin!
Wendy Hoad
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: World Number One, reigning Olympic Champion and now FedExCup American Number One, Justin Rose.