Woods replaces magic with moxie
By K.C. Johnson / Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO -- Just as it did last year, Tiger Woods' tee shot
on the par-3 14th hole kicked off a ridge and magically fed towards
the pin in Sunday's final round of the Motorola Western Open.
Just as he did last year, Woods strolled up the 18th fairway
to thunderous applause from an appreciative gallery.
But unlike last year, Woods missed the ensuing short birdie
attempt on No. 14, and the only people accompanying Woods in the
18th fairway Sunday were playing partner Ted Tryba, two caddies
and a PGA Tour scoring official.
This wasn't last year.
No spontaneous, overflowing exhibitions of Tiger mania by the
gallery on the 18th fairway. No final-round string of birdies.
No Western Open championship.
But what Woods displayed Sunday, with his 3-under-par 69, was
grit. Replacing the magic from last year is moxie.
Woods, who shot a 76 in the first round, played well thereafter
and finished in a tie for ninth at 7-under-par 281. Sunday, he
survived back-to-back bogeys on the front side to finish strong
with an eagle on No. 15, a 519-yard par 5, and a chip-in birdie
on the par-4 17th hole.
In short, Woods battled.
"I'm right there. My game is very close," Woods said,
wearing his traditional final-round red shirt. "My putting
is starting to come around, and I am feeling more and more comfortable
with this new swing action (coach) Butch (Harmon) and I are working
on. As time goes on and I get more familiar with it, things will
be good."
The expectations for Woods are comical, really, bordering on
insane.
As Woods walked to the 12th green, 10 shots off the lead, a
gallery member shouted, "Couple holes-in-ones, couple eagles,
you're back in it, Tiger!"
Sure. And Phil Jackson could return to the Bulls Tuesday as
player-coach.
But Woods has learned to disregard such expectations and concentrate
on his swing. The trait is one of the major adjustments in Woods'
game, which now is based less on raw talent and more on a mixture
of his physical and mental prowess.
"If you start living your life for someone other than
yourself, you're in trouble," Woods said. "I just try
to live up to my own expectations. Right now, I'm pretty close
to playing where I want to play. I know that I still need to keep
working on things I'm working on before they jell. Once they jell,
hopefully I'll get on a roll."
A good target for that roll is in just under three weeks, when
Woods will tee it up in the British Open at Royal Birkdale. He
has never played the course, but could hardly contain his enthusiasm
when asked about it.
"I'm excited about playing the British because my swing
is coming around at the same time that I'm feeling more comfortable
with my putting," Woods said. "It's a really good feeling."
(c) 1998, Chicago Tribune.
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