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Golf: Woods takes over lead in FedEx Cup
By Doug Ferguson, AP Golf Writer
Monday, September 10, 2007 | No comments posted.
LEMONT, Ill. - Tiger Woods got some separation at the BMW Championship.
He pulled away from Aaron Baddeley and Steve Stricker, who were applying enormous pressure behind him at Cog Hill. And his two-shot victory Sunday allowed Woods to pull away from Phil Mickelson, who was watching from home.
When the cheers finally subsided in another compelling finish in the PGA Tour Playoffs, Woods walked off with an 8-under 63 for his sixth victory of the season. It put his name in the record books for a variety of feats and restored him to the top of the playoff standings with one week remaining in the FedEx Cup.
All that mattered to Woods was making putts.
It was his best round on the greens all week at Cog Hill, none bigger than a 50-foot birdie that stretched from one end of the green to the other on the par-3 12th that got him back on track.
“With conditions this soft, the guys are just going to tear this place apart,” Woods said. “I think the three of us just got wrapped up in it. We were all making birdies, and we kept pushing each other. I just made a few more on that back nine.”
The 63 tied the course record at Cog Hill (Woods already was a part-owner) and matched his best closing round on tour. He finished at 22-under 262 to break by five shots the tournament scoring record that Scott Hoch set in 2001 and Woods matched two years later.
And it was the 60th victory of his PGA Tour, making the 31-year-old Woods the youngest player to hit that milestone.
As for the FedEx Cup, he’s right where most people figured he would be.
Despite skipping the first tournament in the playoffs, Woods had a 3,133-point lead over Stricker, who finished third at the BMW Championship, and a 4,120-point lead over Mickelson, who decided to skip Chicago after winning in Boston.
So it comes down to this at East Lake for the Tour Championship:
— A victory by Woods clinches the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize.
— Stricker can win the FedEx Cup by winning at East Lake, which would be his second victory in these playoffs.
— Mickelson could capture the cup if he wins the Tour Championship and Woods finishes lower than second alone.
— Rory Sabbatini (No.4) and K.J. Choi (No. 5) have to win the Tour Championship and hope that Woods finishes out of the top 15, something the world’s No. 1 player hasn’t done since the Memorial in early June.
What does all this mean to Woods?
“You just go play,” he said. “You try and win the tournament. As I’ve always said, winning takes care of everything, so you don’t have to worry about it if you win.”
Winning is rarely a problem for Woods.
He appeared mildly surprised when told the BMW Championship was the 60th victory of his 11 years on the PGA Tour. But it lost a little significance when Woods was reminded that he picked up No. 50 only 13 months ago at the Buick Open.
“Not bad,” he said.
This was his 12th victory in his last 21 starts — that’s as many as the next eight guys in the world ranking have won since then.
LPGArained out
ROGERS, Ark. — Stacy Lewis finished atop the leaderboard — and she even received a big trophy. However, she wasn’t the champion. Lewis was the first-round leader at LPGA NW Arkansas Championship, which was shortened from 54 holes to 18 because of rain on the first two days.
Lewis, an amateur who plays college golf at nearby Arkansas, finished her first round Saturday at 7-under 65. Lewis, the NCAA champion, isn’t considered an official winner because the tournament did not last at least 36 holes.
Kristy McPherson, Katherine Hull and Teresa Lu shot 66s Friday on the 6,238-yard course and were a stroke behind Lewis. Juli Inkster, Sherri Turner and Pak were another stroke back at 67. Only 32 players hadn’t finished when play resumed on the final day.
Americans win Walker Cup
NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland — Jonathan Moore hit a 4-iron into 4 feet for eagle on the 18th hole to give the Americans the final point they needed to capture the Walker Cup, the first time in 16 years they have won away from home.
The Americans won the Walker Cup for the second straight year against Britain and Ireland, 121⁄2 to 111⁄2, and hold a 33-7-1 record in the series.
Moore’s eagle gave him a 1-up win over Nigel Edwards.
Jamie Lovemark also won his singles match for the United States, beating Jamie Moul 4 and 3. Colt Knost halved with Danny Willett.
He pulled away from Aaron Baddeley and Steve Stricker, who were applying enormous pressure behind him at Cog Hill. And his two-shot victory Sunday allowed Woods to pull away from Phil Mickelson, who was watching from home.
When the cheers finally subsided in another compelling finish in the PGA Tour Playoffs, Woods walked off with an 8-under 63 for his sixth victory of the season. It put his name in the record books for a variety of feats and restored him to the top of the playoff standings with one week remaining in the FedEx Cup.
All that mattered to Woods was making putts.
It was his best round on the greens all week at Cog Hill, none bigger than a 50-foot birdie that stretched from one end of the green to the other on the par-3 12th that got him back on track.
“With conditions this soft, the guys are just going to tear this place apart,” Woods said. “I think the three of us just got wrapped up in it. We were all making birdies, and we kept pushing each other. I just made a few more on that back nine.”
The 63 tied the course record at Cog Hill (Woods already was a part-owner) and matched his best closing round on tour. He finished at 22-under 262 to break by five shots the tournament scoring record that Scott Hoch set in 2001 and Woods matched two years later.
And it was the 60th victory of his PGA Tour, making the 31-year-old Woods the youngest player to hit that milestone.
As for the FedEx Cup, he’s right where most people figured he would be.
Despite skipping the first tournament in the playoffs, Woods had a 3,133-point lead over Stricker, who finished third at the BMW Championship, and a 4,120-point lead over Mickelson, who decided to skip Chicago after winning in Boston.
So it comes down to this at East Lake for the Tour Championship:
— A victory by Woods clinches the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize.
— Stricker can win the FedEx Cup by winning at East Lake, which would be his second victory in these playoffs.
— Mickelson could capture the cup if he wins the Tour Championship and Woods finishes lower than second alone.
— Rory Sabbatini (No.4) and K.J. Choi (No. 5) have to win the Tour Championship and hope that Woods finishes out of the top 15, something the world’s No. 1 player hasn’t done since the Memorial in early June.
What does all this mean to Woods?
“You just go play,” he said. “You try and win the tournament. As I’ve always said, winning takes care of everything, so you don’t have to worry about it if you win.”
Winning is rarely a problem for Woods.
He appeared mildly surprised when told the BMW Championship was the 60th victory of his 11 years on the PGA Tour. But it lost a little significance when Woods was reminded that he picked up No. 50 only 13 months ago at the Buick Open.
“Not bad,” he said.
This was his 12th victory in his last 21 starts — that’s as many as the next eight guys in the world ranking have won since then.
LPGArained out
ROGERS, Ark. — Stacy Lewis finished atop the leaderboard — and she even received a big trophy. However, she wasn’t the champion. Lewis was the first-round leader at LPGA NW Arkansas Championship, which was shortened from 54 holes to 18 because of rain on the first two days.
Lewis, an amateur who plays college golf at nearby Arkansas, finished her first round Saturday at 7-under 65. Lewis, the NCAA champion, isn’t considered an official winner because the tournament did not last at least 36 holes.
Kristy McPherson, Katherine Hull and Teresa Lu shot 66s Friday on the 6,238-yard course and were a stroke behind Lewis. Juli Inkster, Sherri Turner and Pak were another stroke back at 67. Only 32 players hadn’t finished when play resumed on the final day.
Americans win Walker Cup
NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland — Jonathan Moore hit a 4-iron into 4 feet for eagle on the 18th hole to give the Americans the final point they needed to capture the Walker Cup, the first time in 16 years they have won away from home.
The Americans won the Walker Cup for the second straight year against Britain and Ireland, 121⁄2 to 111⁄2, and hold a 33-7-1 record in the series.
Moore’s eagle gave him a 1-up win over Nigel Edwards.
Jamie Lovemark also won his singles match for the United States, beating Jamie Moul 4 and 3. Colt Knost halved with Danny Willett.
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