Woods catches fire but can't catch O'Meara
By the Associated Press
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - Mark O'Meara matched every Tiger Woods'
birdie down the stretch Sunday and won the Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am for the fifth time since 1985, this one by a single stroke
over his fishing buddy from Florida.
Playing in the next group, O'Meara watched as Woods knocked
iron shots to four feet on Nos. 16 and 17 for birdies but responded
with birdies of his own on those holes to carry a two-stroke lead
to the final hole.
Woods had one more dramatic surprise for O'Meara, however,
carrying his 3-wood second shot 267 yards to the green for an
eagle try. But his 40-foot eagle try missed and he finished with
his third consecutive birdie for an 8-under-par 64 and a 72-hole
score of 19-under-par 269.
"I knew I needed to make eagle and there was only one
way to do it," Woods said about his gamble to go for the
green guarded by the Pacific Ocean on the left side.
It was an incredible finish by Woods who was 10 strokes behind
after 36 holes but played the last 36 holes in only 127 shots,
shooting a 63 on Saturday.
"It was too little too late," Woods said.
Third round leader David Duval closed with a 72 on Sunday and
finished third at 270. The 268 winning total by O'Meara broke
the tournament record set by Peter Jacobsen in 1995 by three strokes.
"I really didn't play well this week," O'Meara said
after his fourth consecutive 67. "I just kept my composure
and putted well."
O'Meara, who lives near Woods in Orlando, spends a lot of time
golfing with Woods for fun and fishing when they are away from
the PGA Tour.
"I've gotten into his wallet," O'Meara said jokingly
about their friendly wagers on the golf course.
On Sunday he got the $342,000 first prize put up by tournament
sponsor AT&T.
The day began with Duval leading O'Meara by three strokes and
Woods by seven. But after a 31 on the front nine by Woods, the
back side started with O'Meara and Duval tied just two strokes
ahead of Woods.
Woods birdie No. 12 to get within a stroke but when he bogeyed
No. 13 and made pars on the next two holes it looked like he might
be running out of steam.
"I'm feeling both disappointment and elation," Woods
said. "I should have been in a playoff if not for that bogey."
But big finishes are already a part of the folklore around
the 21-year-old Woods.
He hit a sand wedge from 80 yards to four feet on No. 16 and
a powerful 7-iron to four feet on No. 17 for birdies. But O'Meara
followed with a chip-in for a birdie on No. 16 and then hit a
6-iron to 10 feet on No. 17 and made the putt.
O'Meara played No. 18 conservatively and created a moment of
hope for Woods when he missed the green short in the rough. But
he chipped to a foot and tapped in for his fifth victory in this
tournament and the 13th career win for the 40-year-old O'Meara.
"All week long I've kind of had this feeling that things
were going my way," O'Meara said. "I feel like there
is a guy up there watching over me on the Monterey Peninsula."
The record for the most victories in a single event is eight
by Sam Snead in the Greater Greensboro Open. Jack Nicklaus won
the Masters six times and the PGA Championship five times.
|
