Woods’ 1999 conquest was second consecutive

From TGI Staff Reports

Tiger Woods arrived at Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course on November 23 without

the benefit of a practice round. Fresh from a victory in the World Cup of Golf,

Woods had only a few hours to spare before competing in the PGA Grand Slam of

Golf.

But Woods gathered himself quickly on that first day of competition.

He found his rhythm with birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th holes to defeat

British Open champion Paul Lawrie, 3 and 2, in the match play format.

A day

later, Woods combined for an eagle and two birdies on the front nine to build a

commanding lead over alternate and past PGA champion Davis Love III. He won 3

and 2 over Love.

With the victory, Woods joined Greg Norman (1993 and

1994) as the only back-to-back winners of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Woods

set the tone for the championship on the first hole, sinking an eight-foot

birdie putt after Love had dropped his birdie from 12 feet.

Woods went on

to eagle the second hole and build a 5-up lead through eight holes. Love

trimmed the deficit to 3-up with a pair of back-nine birdies, but was unable to

make up ground after that. Woods closed the match with a par on the

16th.

The PGA Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy winner, Woods capped his

season with his 10th worldwide victory in his previous 14 starts. Woods’

$400,000 payday upped his overall Grand Slam — over three appearances — total

to $1,050,000. Woods won the event in 1998 as well and finished second in

1997.

Love, who replaced the late Payne Stewart, cruised to the final match

with a 6 and 5 first-round conquest of Masters Champion Jose Maria Olazabal.

Love went out with a 7-under-par 29 on the front nine, sinking five birdies and

an eagle. He closed Olazabal out with a birdie on the par 4 12th

hole.

Olazabal finished third after Lawrie suffered stretched ligaments in

his right ankle, and was forced to concede the second-day match after nine

holes. Olazabal had gained a 1-up lead to that point.