Tiger Closes In On Jack With 4th PGA Title And 13th Major
Posted August 13, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Last week it was Barry Bonds breaking a baseball record that many thought would stand for at least a few more decades, and though he didn’t set a new mark, on Sunday Tiger Woods took a big step towards catching and passing golf history’s most significant total.
Though his five-stroke lead was shaved down to just one on the back nine in his final round, Woods appeared in complete control while capturing the PGA Championship Sunday, in the process picking up his 13th career major tournament win.
What that means is that Woods, 31, sits just five major wins shy of Jack Nicklaus, who with his career mark of 18 has for many years stood as the pinnacle of dominance on the links.
“I felt like I was in control of the tournament,” Woods said, while his wife Elin and two-month-old daughter, Sam Alexis, waiting in the scorer’s tent.
“That’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before,” Woods said. “To have her here, it brings chills to me. I was surprised she was out here, to see her and Elin there. It’s just so cool.”
Woods moved to 13-0 when leading a major going into the final round.
Behind Woods was three-time major winner Ernie Els, who proclaimed before the round that he’d bet his house on Woods if he were a fan, rather than someone trying to beat him. Els finished third behind journeyman Woody Austin, who had plenty of missed opportunities in the early rounds to pin his second place finish on.
“I’m intimidated by the fact that I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” Austin said. “I’m not intimidated by any other person. I’m intimidated by the golf.”
Woods has won at least one major over each of the last three years, and Sunday’s was his fourth PGA Championship, putting him one short of another record shared by Nicklaus and Walter Hagen.
“It turned into a great year,” Woods said. “I felt like I’ve played well most of the year, and just didn’t get it done in the first two major championships.”
Woods finished the tournament at 8-under 272, but the bottom line for Tiger is that Sunday was just one win when it comes to the big picture. Thirteen down, five to go.
“Hopefully, health permitting and everything goes right and I keep improving, I’ll one day surpass that,” Woods said.
Photo Credit: Jeff Gross/Getty Images
