Sunday, October 31, 1999
At least one thing back to normal: Woods
leading again
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
HOUSTON (AP) - The flags were raised to their regular height.
The gallery was more enthusiastic with cheers. Players whose spirits
were lifted by the memorial service for Payne Stewart managed
to share a few laughs.
On a day when normalcy tried to return in the Tour Championship,
the best indication was Tiger Woods on his way to yet another
victory.
Returning from a moving tribute to Stewart, Woods wasted little
time moving into the lead at Champions Golf Club on Saturday by
making eight birdies in just about every weather condition imaginable
and taking a three-shot lead going into the final round.
"I came to an understanding, a resolve," Woods said
of Friday's service in Orlando, Fla. "And by doing that,
today's round was a little easier emotionally than it was on Thursday.
Seeing Tracey (Stewart) speak from the heart ... that's incredible.
"If she can have that kind of strength, then we should
be able to do that easily."
Woods showed no effects from a stinger he suffered hitting
a rock, finishing off a round of 66 in a series of rainstorms
and adding a 4-under 67 in the cool, blustery afternoon to finish
54 holes at 13-under 200.
That puts him in great position to win his third straight tournament
and seventh in his last 10 starts - Woods has won the last 10
times after having at least a share of the third-round lead, including
last week at Disney World.
"How much better can I get? Only time will tell, and only
more hard work will show," Woods said. "Hopefully, I
will continue to get better."
Chris Perry made four birdies to complete a 64, and had a 69
in the afternoon to finish at 203. Brent Geiberger was another
stroke back after a 68.
Davis Love III, tied with Woods at 9 under when the second
round was completed, had a 73 in the afternoon and was in the
group at 203 that included defending champion Hal Sutton.
Because the PGA Tour canceled play Friday so players could
attend the memorial service for Stewart, 27 holes were played
Thursday and Saturday, setting up a regular 18-hole final on Sunday.
Remembrances of Stewart, one of six people killed in a freak
plane crash on Monday, were still evident. Several players wore
bracelets that said "WWJD" - What Would Jesus Do - which
were handed out during the memorial service Friday.
Stewart wore the bracelet when he won the U.S. Open in June.
"Before the memorial service, everything was up in the
air," said Phil Mickelson, who finished second to Stewart
in the U.S. Open. "Now, we're at a point where we can deal
with it. The word you often use is closure. Today was the first
day to try to move on, and to deal with it as best as possible."
Flags that had been at half-staff all week returned to their
regular height, and most players felt more at ease having seen
the strength of Stewart's widow, who gave a moving tribute to
the U.S. Open champion.
"To end it the way she did - `Let the party begin in heaven'
- that said it all," Woods said.
Woods' play also spoke volumes - with a stiff neck, no less.
Woods pinched a nerve when he tried to hit through a baseball-sized
rock late in the day on Thursday. Physical therapists said he
would feel stiffness through the weekend, but Woods already was
feeling better. He arrived an hour before his tee time and headed
toward the trailer - but only to tell the therapists he wouldn't
be needing their services.
"I'm not hardheaded," Woods said with a smile. "Just
stubborn."
He's good, too.
Woods had three birdies on his first nine holes to get to 133,
and it wasn't long before he really poured it on. He holed a chip
from 20 feet as the next batch of showers raced across a pond
fronting the green, then rolled in a birdie putt from 15 feet
on the next hole.
After more sunshine and showers, a cold front blew through
when Woods and Love made the turn and it felt more like the British
Open.
"Windy, hot, humid, cool, calm, cool, typhoonish,"
Woods said. "The only thing we didn't have was an ark."
The cool weather at the end of the day made Woods' neck stiffen
slightly, but he still had a full range of motion - and he still
has command of the Tour Championship.
Just when it appears he can't get any better, he showed Saturday
that there may be no limit to what he can achieve.
The last player to win three straight tournaments was David
Duval at the end of 1997.
But Woods' dominance runs much deeper than that. Since returning
from his post-Masters break, he has finished lower than seventh
only once in 10 tournaments. A victory Sunday would be his seventh
on the PGA Tour this year, the most since Johnny Miller won eight
times in 1974, and push Woods' season earnings to over $5.6 million.
And there's still one tournament left, the World Golf Championship
event in Spain.
Still, Woods' thoughts were not totally beyond the memory of
Stewart.
"Winning would be a nice thing," he said, "but
I don't think I'll feel quite as high."
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