As Tiger Woods' second shot on the 18th hole came to rest inches from the hole, wrapping up his second win of the season with back-to-back birdies to close, my phone started to vibrate. "That any good?" came from a family member. "He is amazing," rung through from a buddy in Denver. "Just wow," from a friend in Scottsdale. That, folks, is why Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods.
Four shots back before he teed off on Sunday, Woods put together his most polished round since his return to the game, shooting a 7-under 65, his best final round score since the BMW Championship in 2007.
The win goes back to one thing -- ball-striking, and Woods was as good as he may have ever been off the tee. Tiger hit 87.5 percent of the fairways at Muirfield Village including a Sunday round where he didn't miss a fairway (only the sixth time in his career he has accomplished such a feat). If the image of Tiger's first six tournaments of 2009 was a disgusted look as his ball sailed away from the fairway, this week was a simple twirl of the club as he watched tee shot after tee shot find the short grass. Just how much better was he this week than earlier this season? In his other win, at Bay Hill, Tiger hit 60.7 percent of his fairways, nearly 30 percent less than he did at the Memorial.
Jack Nicklaus, tournament host, mentioned as Tiger stripped a long iron off the 18th tee, "This may be his best week driving, ever."
It also was a pretty good week for his short game.
On Wednesday at the Memorial, fans got to see the very rare occurrence of Tiger and Jack competing against each other. What wasn't so rare was how the match ended, when Tiger chipped in to win the match and force Nicklaus to muster, almost in disbelief, "You chip in more here than anyone else."
On Sunday, with Woods looking up a busy leaderboard, he produced yet another "how does he do it" moment on the par-5 11th, when he opened up the face of his lob wedge and hit a chopped-down, one-handed flip that landed on the green, and rolled directly to the hole, dropping for an eagle and some much-needed momentum.
Tiger fought off Team Polo, as Jonathan Byrd and Davis Love III put up a good fight but couldn't quite match Tiger's magic. Jim Furyk hung around but a short missed birdie putt on the par-5 15th did him in.
In the end, it was Woods, who carded seven birdies and an eagle on Sunday. Tiger finished second in driving accuracy at the Memorial this week. When was the last time Tiger was in the top seven in driving accuracy? At Bethpage Black, in 2002. I bet you can guess where Tiger's next tournament is being hosted. The U.S. Open just got a lot more interesting.
Latest Golf Images
DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Jack Nicklaus waits with Tiger Woods after his one-stroke victory at the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods;Jack Nicklaus
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Golf fans watch the play on the ninth green during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Jim Furyk hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Furyk
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Jack Nicklaus greets Tiger Woods after his one-stroke victory alongside his sons Jack Jr. (L) and Steve (C) at the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jack Nicklaus Jr.;Tiger Woods;Jack Nicklaus;Steve Nicklaus
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Geoff Ogilvy walks off the 12th tee alongside his caddie during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Geoff Ogilvy
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Davis Love III hits a shot on the tenth hole during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Davis Love III
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Golf fans watch the play on the ninth green during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods
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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 07: Jim Furyk waits on the 18th green during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Furyk
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AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 7: Dan Quigley tees off the 4th hole during the third and final round of the Triton Financial Classic held at The Hills Country Club on June 7, 2009 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Marc Feldman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Quigley
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AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 7: Mark O'Meara lines up a birdie putt on the 17th hole during the third and final round of the Triton Financial Classic held at The Hills Country Club on June 7, 2009 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Marc Feldman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark O'Meara
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-07-2009 @ 5:57PM
elpgolfer said...
way to go tiger. and to all you chumps who thought he was done and over the hill, where are you now?...ha ha ha ha
Reply
6-07-2009 @ 6:08PM
Al said...
He is the "man". If you want to beat in golf you have to watch out for th tiger
Reply
6-07-2009 @ 6:18PM
hobbsoldbg65 said...
Shout it from the rooftops, Tiger is the greatest golfer that ever lived. He never fails to provide excitement for his fans, win or lose. What a fabulous day for Tiger and the viewers.I feel sorry for the golfers who shot themselves in the foot toward the end, especially Davis Love. I have always been a Davis Love fan too.Wow, the us open can not get here fast enough for me.Loook out Bethpage , here comes Tiger. Roaaaarrrr.
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6-07-2009 @ 6:27PM
the cooker said...
That second shot on 18 to seal it was unbelievable.
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6-07-2009 @ 7:20PM
Sieben said...
I hope this describes what I just witnessed from Tigers play MAGNIFICENT Congratulations TIGER Stay healthy and thanks for the memories
6-07-2009 @ 6:32PM
timothy bud 69 said...
i grew up on sports, records are ment to be broken! especially the ones no one thought could be broken!!! it won`t be long tiger!
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6-07-2009 @ 6:48PM
bynumintx said...
WAY TO GO TIGER!!! YOU ARE THE REASON I WATCH GOLF!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!
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6-07-2009 @ 7:25PM
tricia said...
I totally agree re reason to watch golf,
Tiger Woods, he is the game of golf, without him it lacks so much.
Congratulations and now on to the next tournament win etc. etc. etc.
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6-07-2009 @ 7:39PM
Linnie said...
The only time I watch golf is when Tiger is playing. Great tournament, Tiger! That's why you are Number 1.
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6-07-2009 @ 8:29PM
Christopher said...
Tiger recovers and roars on. A true champion of today and a class act. Awesome to watch.
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6-07-2009 @ 9:03PM
dixonopeco said...
I am almost ashame to say if Tiger is playing I am glued to the tube. If he is not playing on the weekend I am. What a fickle golf fan I am, but I have a feeling I am not alone.
Richard
Tulsa, OK
Reply
6-08-2009 @ 7:26AM
gushowie said...
I am just the opposite. I am not glued to the television when Tiger is playing. Boring! There are much better stories in the other guys trying to win.
6-07-2009 @ 9:04PM
Cady Ladie said...
===================================================== THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THAT TIGER IS ALL HYPE, AND HE HAS THE MEDIA IN HIS BACK POCKET. WELL...RIGHTFULLY SO. HOW OFTEN DO A GRETSKY, JORDAN OR WOODS COME ALONG IN ONE'S LIFETIME IN SPORTS THAT YOU CAN'T JUST SIT BACK AND MARVEL AT HOW EASY THEY MAKE IT LOOK? IT'S NOT JUST THAT HE WINS...BUT HOW HE WINS. HE MAY SEEM COCKY, BUT IF SOMEONE WHO EXCELS AT WHAT HE DOES CAN'T BE, THEN TELL ME WHO CAN. BUT IN REALITY ALL YOU TIGER HATERS, IT'S CALL ...CONFIDANCE.=========
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6-08-2009 @ 12:09PM
badams0210 said...
Well said. Its hard not to be cocky when you are the best at what you do.
6-07-2009 @ 11:09PM
SouthernParson said...
Tiger showed real class today. He forsook his traditional Sunday Red for Pink. Great support for the Mickelson's!
Thanks, Tiger
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6-08-2009 @ 2:07AM
hwill2000 said...
mpm80----where are you?
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6-08-2009 @ 3:52AM
Mark said...
Just simply another tour de force performance.
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6-08-2009 @ 11:17AM
badams0210 said...
Where are all you people that had Tiger all washed up, over the hill etc. today. It was fun to watch all the the young guns and other very good players give Tiger a run for the money, but as expected, especially from me Tiger prevailed. There are a ton of very good golfers on the pga tour, its just to bad that they are playing in the same era as Tiger Woods. I never ever get tired of wtching Tiger Woods win or lose.
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6-08-2009 @ 1:26PM
Joko said...
Tiger forever, Phat never!!!
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6-08-2009 @ 11:59AM
flecompte said...
Tiger closes out golf tournaments the way MJ closed out basketball games. Tiger thrives on the the tension building up to the 18th when the other crack and fold to the pressure.
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