Even avid golf fans probably don't know much about Bart Bryant, the 45-year-old journeyman who spent much of the back nine of the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational tied atop the leaderboard with Tiger Woods.
Bryant, playing a group ahead of Woods, parred the difficult par-4 18th and made his way to the scorer's tent, presumably under the impression that the worst-case scenario would have he and Eldrick in a playoff.
Nah, that would seem to logical. Instead, Woods, who had been short with his putter all day -- and hadn't made a putt of more than 20 feet all week -- struck his second shot to 18 to the middle of the green, some 21 feet from the hole. After spending a good 90 seconds surveying his situation, Woods stroked the putt exactly 21 feet, the last revolution just sneaking over the lip. Birdie, 10-under, victory.
Woods is 3-0 in 2008, after finishing last season on a 2-0 run. He becomes the first player in PGA Tour history to win five consecutive tournaments on three different occasions, and runs his record to 43-3 when leading a tournament after 54 holes. His 64 career victories surpasses Arnold Palmer and ties Ben Hogan for third on the all-time list behind Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82).
And best of all, we're due another week of "Will Woods Go Undefeated in 2008!?!" talk. Awesome.
For Bryant, it was an inspired effort, and too his credit, he even cracked a smile as Woods' putt made its now seemingly inevitable journey to the bottom of the cup on 18. The fact that it took a six-time Q Schooler to give Woods a go again points to the obvious lack of any young upstarts on the horizon (although we hear every season about so and so being "Tiger's next challenger".) Maybe 2009's the year. (Worst case: 2025; Tiger will be 50 and relegated to spending most of his weekends kicking ass on the Champions Tour.)
In the meantime, Tiger will be looking for victory No. 4 at next week's WGC-CA Championship at Doral. And while we continue to believe that there's no way he can win every time he tees it up, he'll continue to do just that.
Latest Golf Photos
Sweden's Louise Friberg celebrates with the trophy after winning the LPGA MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta tournament at the Bosque Real Golf Club in Mexico City, Sunday, March, 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Miguel Tovar)
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Swedens Louise Friberg, right, celebrates with the trophy after winning the LPGA MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta tournament at the Bosque Real Golf Club in Mexico City, Sunday, March 16, 2008. At left is a Mariachi musician. (AP Photo/Miguel Tovar)
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Swedens Louise Friberg celebrates with the trophy after winning the LPGA MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta tournament at the Bosque Real Golf Club in Mexico City, Sunday, March, 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Miguel Tovar)
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Swedens Louise Friberg, sorrounded by a mariachi band, holds up the trophy after winning the LPGA MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta tournament at the Bosque Real Golf Club in Mexico City, Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Miguel Tovar)
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Tiger Woods, left, and Arnold Palmer talk during the trophy presentation after Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Vijay Singh, of Fiji, watches a tee shot during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
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Bart Bryant watches his tee shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. Sunday, March 16, 2008. He finished nine under par, in second place. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
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Hunter Mahon chips onto the 15th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
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Tiger Woods lines up his putt for birdie on the 18th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. Sunday, March 16, 2008. Woods sank the putt and won the tournament. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-16-2008 @ 7:18PM
roby said...
lets face it TIGER WOODS IS GREAT!!!!! you can't take it away from him. I love watching him play. He sure has brought GOLF back. Nice going TIGER keep it up.
Reply
3-16-2008 @ 7:50PM
loretta gingles said...
Tiger, always stay humble. Remember, it is Jesus that is blessing you.
Reply
3-17-2008 @ 9:05AM
Fred Patterson said...
It is an awesome time to follow golf, with Tiger making history every time he tees it up. It's shame that people like Woody Austin, whose game cannot hold a candle to Tiger's try to down play his accomplishments with petty remarks that attempt to belittle Tiger but in reality shows them for the bigots they are.
Reply
3-17-2008 @ 9:06AM
Rusty@therustygourmet.com said...
I am absolutely awestruck by Tiger's talent.
Reply
3-18-2008 @ 4:34PM
Lucille Conklin said...
Keep up your refined demeanor and charisma. You are a perfect role model for the youth of today. No other sport can claim this model behavior!!!
Reply
3-17-2008 @ 10:18PM
dillonL said...
In my Humble opinion, Tiger Woods is the greatest player of all times.
Jesus has nothing to do with it. Why do people insult Jesus as being so selective? Why would be support Tiger over anyone else in a game of sport? Did Jesus cause V J Sing and the other 70 players to lose so that Tiger could win? I don't think so.
Tiger won by relentles practice and uniqueness of talent. Talk of Jesus and invisible beings is stupid at best and superstitious at worst.
Go Tiger you are the Greatest Ever.
Reply
3-18-2008 @ 4:57AM
pgapro007 said...
Tiger is going on a serious run. The quality of the fields he is going up against is top notch. Once in a lifetime greatness.
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