Tuesday, May 16, 2000
Woods back at site that started
last year's streak
By ROY KAMMERER
Associated Press Writer
ALVESLOHE, Germany (AP) — Tiger Woods
was struggling when he came to the Deutsche Bank-Sap Open a year
ago.
He had gone four months without a victory,
had slid to No. 3 in the world rankings, and had just finished
rebuilding his swing.
Everything changed for Woods in Germany,
though, as he took control of the tourney midway through the second
round and won with a 15-under 273. That opened a run of four titles
in eight events, closely followed by a six-start winning streak.
“It started to come together during
practice one day, about 11/2 weeks before I came to Germany,”
Woods said of his swing.
Woods arrived Tuesday to defend his title
at the $2.5 million Deutsche Bank-Sap Open, Europe's richest tournament
outside of the British Open.
He comes in after firing a fourth-round
63 at the Byron Nelson Classic, his lowest final 18 holes as a
pro. He missed joining a three-way playoff, won by Sweden's Jesper
Parnevik, by a stroke.
Woods' three-stroke victory at this tournament
in 1999 came against five other players ranked among the world's
top 10.
This year, Woods will face seven of the
world's top 15. The field includes Parnevik, Colin Montgomerie,
Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
“Forget the field,” Woods said.
“I need to play where I have a chance to win coming down
the back nine on Sunday.”
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