Tiger nabs 3rd win of '09
BETHESDA, Md. — Tiger Woods made it a hat trick of victories in tournaments hosted by PGA Tour stars, but this one the most meaningful of all because it was his own.
Woods lived up to his hopes of being a "greedy host" Sunday, leaving Anthony Kim in his wake and then making a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to overtake hard-charging Hunter Mahan for a one-shot victory in his AT&T National.
Woods closed with a 3-under 67 at Congressional for his third victory of the year, the others coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.
The challenge came from a rising star, just not the Californian anyone expected.
Mahan made six birdies on the back nine for a 62, tying the course record that Kim set Thursday. The final birdie on the 18th gave Mahan a share of the lead, and he had to wait more than an hour to see if Woods could top him.
Woods twice scrambled for par to stay tied for the lead, then looked as though he squandered a good birdie chance on the par-5 16th when his chip from the rough came out heavy and stopped 20 feet from the hole. Backing off once, he rolled it in, then walked stoically to the hole, nodding his head.
He closed with routine pars to finish at 13-under 267. The 68th victory of his PGA Tour career moved him to the top of the money list and the FedEx Cup standings for the first time this year.
Whether it gives him any momentum will be determined in two weeks at Turnberry.
All three of Woods' victories this year have come in his final start before a major, and he finished four shots behind in both the Masters and the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black two weeks ago.
The next stop is the British Open on a links course Woods has never seen.
As for the golf he played Sunday — that was nothing new.
Woods kept mistakes to a minimum — he failed to make par on the 11th hole for the fourth straight round — and took advantage of his birdie chances when he had them.
Kim simply couldn't keep up.
It was the ideal final pairing at Congressional — the world's No. 1 player and tournament host tied with Kim, a confident 24-year-old who was the defending champion. Kim lost four shots in four holes on the front nine and didn't make a birdie on the back nine.
He shot a 71 to finish alone in third, four shots behind.
"I had a lot of fun," Kim said. "I know I'll be knocking on the door again. It's only a matter of time. I learned if you have a birdie putt, you better make it."
Comments
- Branch president without a congregation 12:04 a.m.
- Youths celebrate strength, courage 12:04 a.m.
- Becky Thomas: Closing the gap 12:04 a.m.
- Work and endurance 12:03 a.m.
- Viewpoint: 'You will be our star' 12:03 a.m.
- Fasting and praying for the needy 12:02 a.m.
- Calif. principal receives award 12:02 a.m.
- 'Creation' concert is a masterpiece 11:58 p.m.
- Kirilenko sits, Miles improves 11:35 p.m.
- Texas survives huge Husker scare 11:34 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
309 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
247 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
195 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
189 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
128 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
105 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
104 - Harpring's NBA career is over
94
I got some e-mail from Aggie fans regarding a column I wrote last week...
i agree...he is a gunner. I personally feel that the team would do better...
I was privileged to visit the Utah this year. Thanks to all who serve....
I can't hear all your whining. Could you speak up? That scoreboard is WAY too...
Gretkey's question is a good one---I am missing your point.
14 to usc and OSU. BYU and Utah will find out again that a middle of the...
tonight's game? Duh.
Funny thing how these vocational skills are saving a lot of people money in...
I guess you didn't see Tai slide his hip into the Saint Marys Player as he...
sloan always admits the error when it is too late..
injured players come back, look for bad chemistry and more losses. As is...



You can be the first to comment on this story.