Even Tiger's amazed by this comeback
By ROBERT HORN Associated Press Writer
PHUKET, Thailand (AP) - While Ernie Els was falling apart,
Tiger Woods was putting his game back together for his greatest
comeback as a pro.
"I've never done anything like that as a professional,"
said Woods, who made up an eight-shot deficit Sunday and won the
$1.3 million Johnnie Walker Classic in a playoff with Els. "It
was pretty amazing."
Woods shot a 7-under par 65 Sunday, while Els wilted in the
tropical heat with a 74 and 73 for his third and fourth rounds.
Woods, who finished his regulation round two hours earlier than
Els, rushed through a quick warmup for the playoff and won with
a 14-foot putt on the second playoff hole for his first victory
of the season.
"Yeah!" Woods screamed, pumping his right fist three
times as his mother, Kultida, a native of Thailand, rushed to
the green to embrace her son.
"It was really amazing what Tiger did," Els, the
defending champion, said.
Woods once rallied from nine strokes behind on the final day
to win a junior tournament. The European tour record for the biggest
winning rally in the fourth round is 10 strokes, set by Neil Coles
(1977) and Jamie Spence (1992).
After his victory, Woods posed with his trophy on the 18th
fairway in front of three elephants and 100 men dressed in the
crimson uniforms of 18th century Siamese soldiers.
Woods, who had rounds of 72-72-71 entering Sunday, finished
even with Els at 9-under 279 on the Blue Canyon Country Club course
in Phuket, an island resort about 430 miles south of Bangkok.
Woods was called back from the clubhouse after Els bogeyed
the 17th hole, placing him one stroke behind the American. Woods
rushed to the practice tees, only to find no golf balls. He took
only five or seven practice swings before resuming play, his caddie
Mike Cowan said.
"I was pretty nervous on the greens because I hadn't had
any practice putting," Woods said. "When I warmed up,
I hit the ball as hard as I could to get the adrenaline in my
system going."
Els and Woods played the 18th twice during the playoff. On
the first extra hole, Woods drove at least 40 yards past the South
African. He chipped onto the fringe and two-putted for par.
Els chipped about 15 feet to the right of the hole. His putt
rolled an inch to the right, leaving both men tied.
On the second extra hole, Els hit an approach that landed in
the rough behind the green. Woods sent his shot 14 feet to the
right of the hole. Els rolled a chip just past the hole, setting
up Woods' winning putt. As the ball dropped, hundreds of fans
rushed the green as Els solemnly walked away.
"I had a chance on Saturday to close it out, but did not
take it," Els said. "It's just one of those things.
Maybe next time."
Woods earned $218,661 and Els made $145,763. Retief Goosen
of South Africa was third at 280 and won $82,114.
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