Monday, June 4, 2001
Woods adds to legend with another milestone
win
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Paul Azinger was in total awe of Tiger
Woods' latest performance.
“He's probably the most dominant athlete in the history of
sports,” Azinger said after Woods caught, passed and routed
him in Sunday's final round of the Memorial Tournament.
Woods took the lead with an eagle on the fifth hole while Azinger
was bogeying, riding that three-shot swing to win by seven strokes
over Azinger and Sergio Garcia.
“It's incredible,” Azinger said, shaking his head. “I
don't know if the general public appreciates it. If they don't,
they should.”
The victory was just the latest page in the scrapbook for the
25-year-old golfer who has taken on legendary status — particularly
among his fellow competitors.
“I'll be surprised if anyone makes a long-term run at him,”
said Stewart Cink, who finished fourth at 9 under.
“He's so in control of what he does, he doesn't care what
anybody else does,” John Cook said. “Basically, with
his mind, he's 8- to 12-under par before the week even starts.
He just has to keep from breaking down.”
Woods certainly didn't break down.
The win was his fifth this year and his 37th in less than five
years as a pro. He became the first player to win the same tournament
three consecutive years since Tom Watson won the Byron Nelson
Classic from 1978-80.
The lynchpin was a 2-iron on the fifth hole — and Azinger's
wayward 3-wood.
Azinger, the leader after the second and third rounds, still grasped
a one-shot lead on Woods after they hit their drives into the
No. 5 fairway.
Azinger's 3-wood second shot hung in the damp air and dropped
into the pond in front of the green on the par-5 hole. He ended
up taking a bogey.
Woods lifted a towering 2-iron that carried the water and landed
on the green with almost no roll, stopping 6 feet from the pin.
“I'm amazed by some of the shots I was able to pull off this
week,” Woods said. “I hit the ball flush and high and
the shape that I wanted. If I wanted to step up there and hit
a 2-iron 250 yards in the air, I was able to do it. I did it consistently.
That, to me, is kind of cool.”
That was also kind of the end of the tournament.
Azinger bogeyed the next hole, too, and Woods lapped the field
with birdies at holes No. 12, 14 and 15.
Woods played the par-5 holes in 14 under. His next three closest
pursuers, all at the top of their games — Azinger, Garcia
and Cink — were a combined 17 under.
He has won five of his last six tournaments around the world.
He is also 5-0 in his last five starts in the state of Ohio.
After a while, all the numbers and all the achievements become
overwhelming.
“Not too much amazes me anymore, but it's still amazing,”
said Memorial Tournament founder Jack Nicklaus.
Near the end, Azinger apologized to Woods for not giving him a
better battle.
The victory did more than add to Woods' reputation. As if the
golf world needed to be reminded, the pros must not only tackle
Southern Hills but also Woods in the U.S. Open in two weeks.
“He's the guy to beat. He's the guy who's won the last four
consecutive majors. He's the best player in the world,” Jim
Furyk said. “He's got an all-around game and with his length
and his ability, he's got an advantage on any course.”
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