David Toms and Retief Goosen agreed it would be difficult to beat Tiger Woods in 36 at the Poipu Bay , a golf course he literally owned the past three years. They were right. Woods captured his fourth Grand Slam
David Toms and Retief Goosen agreed it would be difficult to beat Tiger Woods in 36 at the Poipu Bay , a golf course he literally owned the past three years.
They were right.
Woods captured his fourth Grand Slam Championship, Wednesday, scoring a 12-under 132-breaking Ernie Els’ course record set in 1997.
Toms, the PGA champion, shot a 67 in the second round-good enough for a second place finish.
Woods, who was down two strokes following Tuesday’s first round, quickly gained the lead with two birdie putts (one from ll and the other from 30) that tied Goosen’s 7-under stronghold going into the third hole.
It set up an impressive 8-under day for Woods.
“I thought I got off to an ideal start today, especially after I birdied the first two holes,” said Woods. “I hit solid all day. I really putted well.”
Woods struggled at 5, missing a six-foot putt and falling one stroke back off the lead.
But while the rest of the pack parred holes six and seven, Woods birdied the two which propelled him to a two-stroke cushion over Goosens’ and Toms’ 7-under going into the back nine.
David Duval, who shot 1-under through nine holes, remained three above par after nine.
Goosen began to fall apart in the back-nine, bogeying holes 10 and 11 and falling three shots behind Woods. Toms gained some ground at nine, smacking a beautiful 101-yard pitching wedge shot that fell a little over a foot from the hole-he birdied and was two behind Woods at the onset of the back nine.
“I felt like I played well today,” said Toms, who finished second with 9-under yesterday. “I just couldn’t make the putts to put any pressure on Tiger, especially down the last six or seven holes.”
Both Toms and Goosen chipped into the lead with birdies on 12, but they couldn’t catch a hot Woods, who extended his lead to 10 under with a birdie on 14, and a seemingly impossible fairway bunker shot on 16 which birdied the hole and ultimately put a lock on the victory.
“Stevie said that’s probably one of the best shots I’ve hit all year,” said Woods, describing a conversation he had with his caddie. “One, I needed to hit it in there, and also because the tournament was not over yet.”
It was over after that shot.
Woods parred the 17 and birdied the 18, giving him 12-under, a new tournament low. He earned $400,000 from the $1 million purse in the two-day event for the winners of the four major championships. Toms received $250,000. U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen closed with a 71 to finish third at 137 and earn $200,000, and British Open champion David Duval was last at 4-over 148 after a 72. He received $150,000.
