Medinah, Ill. – It all seems so silly now, doesn’t it? We watched yet another major championship clinic by Tiger Woods, this one a blistering 18-under-par demolition of Medinah Country Club in the PGA Championship.
His second major of the season and 12th of his incandescent career was reminiscent of the previous one, last month’s win in the British Open.
The dominant performance recalled a tournament in which Woods never was a factor, the 2006 U.S. Open. Returning after a 10-week absence following the death of his father, Woods missed the cut in an event that was regarded as the potential coronation of Phil Mickelson as the game’s best player.
Woods’ left-handed rival had won the previous two majors, the 2005 PGA and the 2006 Masters, and, just as Woods had famously done from 2000-01, appeared on his way to winning four straight.
Had Mickelson not collapsed on the 72nd hole that June day at Winged Foot, turning almost certain victory into ignominious defeat with a double bogey, what would the game look like today? It’s a question that can’t be answered. All that’s known is Mickelson didn’t win and, given the opening, Woods has made certain that it will be years before anyone possibly entertains such asinine thoughts again.
“It is pretty funny,” said Adam Scott, who finished in a tie for third. “It was looking like there would be the Mickel-slam, but I think all that talk just fires Tiger up and sets him off on his own little course.”
Woods is certainly in his own little world. Completing a week in which he – as at Royal Liverpool last month – made his way around a major championship (7,561-yard course) largely without hitting his driver, Woods made just three bogeys for the week and tied the scoring record he set here seven years ago. He also extended to 12 his perfect streak of sealing the deal when holding at least a piece of the third-round lead of a major.
After shooting a 4-under 68 on Sunday, Woods finished five shots ahead of 2003 PGA champ Shaun Micheel and six ahead of Scott, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald. Woods invoked more comparisons to his dominant stretch in 2000-01, when he won 13 times and held the title in each of the four majors.
“It’s eerily similar,” Chris DiMarco said. “I remember playing with him in the U.S. Open, and I could never see where his ball was coming down because all his shots were right against the pin.”
After his victory Sunday, Woods didn’t shy away from the comparisons, and even went back to his win here in 1999 to make his point.
“If you compare how I was here then versus how I am now, there’s a better understanding of how to get more out of my round and how to handle the emotions better,” he said. “I feel like, mentally, I’m so much better prepared now to handle situations than I was then.
“But physically, I feel like I’m hitting the ball extremely well. I have a better understanding of my mechanics and my putting stroke now. I think I’ve made a bunch of strides since the last time I played here.”
Of course, the biggest change between then and now is the 10 majors Woods has won. With the third set of back-to-back victories in majors in his career, Woods has moved to within six of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18. Sunday, Woods became the first man to win the PGA twice on the same course.
“As much as I hate to say it, he’s just playing too good right now,” Garcia said. “He’s hitting it well and putting it well. Everything’s going his way, and it always seems like he gets the breaks. That’s just the way it is.”
Part of Woods’ advantage on Sundays is the intimidation factor that he brings to the first tee. Donald seemed to embrace it, going so far as to wear a red shirt, usually the province of Woods.
“I don’t recall the last time that happened,” Woods said. “I didn’t think anything of it, although I thought it was kind of weird to have a blue belt with it.”
Donald found himself losing ground in the early going, when Woods birdied the opening hole to take the lead for good.
On the 474-yard, par-4 sixth, the combination of Woods’ excellence and good fortune came to bear. Woods hit to the middle of the fairway on his tee shot while Donald’s shot flared off to the right, settling into the gnarly rough. Playing first, Woods’ approach landed on the green about 40 feet from the hole.
Given his lie, Donald hit an amazing shot that ran up onto the green. Unfortunately, the ball came to rest just outside of Woods’ ball. Donald’s birdie attempt slammed off the edge of the cup, which only provided his playing partner with a perfect read. Woods slammed home his putt to end Donald’s chances, and everyone else’s, too.
“It’s a neat feeling to know that you’re in control at a major championship, and basically, if you just keep playing the way you want to play, you’re going to win it,” Woods said.
Staff writer Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
19th hole
YOU CAN DO THIS
Inaccuracy an accurate measure
It was a tough week for Englishman David Howell. The world’s 11th-ranked player, Howell finished in 67th place at the PGA, last among the touring pros in the field, shooting a 9-over-par 297. The biggest wrinkle in Howell’s week was hitting the ball straight off the tee – he hit just 28 fairways all week. As a result, he made only 37 greens in regulation. Both figures ranked 68th among the 70 players who made the weekend cut.
YOU CAN’T DO THIS
Garcia digs the long ball
Standing on the 14th tee Sunday at 10-under par, Sergio Garcia’s hopes of winning the PGA Championship were gone. But the Spaniard then provided one of the day’s most exciting moments. First, he bombed his tee shot 329 yards into the middle of the fairway. Next, he hit his approach on the 605-yard par-5 more than 270 yards onto the green, then made the putt for eagle.
