Wednesday, January 2, 2002
[HAWAII GOLF]
KAPALUA >> With his recent victory at the Williams World Challenge, Tiger Woods once again established himself as an early favorite when he returns to Kapalua's Plantation Course Jan. 3-6 for the PGA Tour's winners-only, season-opening Mercedes Championships. Tiger Woods is once again
the early favorite at the
Mercedes ChampionshipsSpecial to the Star-Bulletin
Winner of the Mercedes Championships in 1997 and 2000, Woods will be competing for the $720,000 winner's share of the $4 million purse, as well as the keys to a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Sport.
Woods enjoyed a terrific year in 2001 to earn the right to play at Kapalua. And once again he proved that when the pressure is greatest, when all the attention is fixed firmly on his 6-foot-2 frame, he can rise to the occasion.
He is still the game's most clutch performer -- a fact proven once again when Woods charged from four strokes back with nine holes to play to defeat Vijay Singh at Sherwood Country Club Dec. 16 at the Williams World Challenge.
Woods shot a course-record-tying 64, due in part to five-consecutive birdies on the back nine, in the final round to earn the victory.
His most severe test of the year, though, was in April in Augusta, Ga. With Woods vying for an unprecedented fourth-straight professional major championship, the 2001 Masters became the mostly widely and wildly anticipated major championship since the era of Bobby Jones. When the last putt dropped at Augusta National Golf Club, a teary-eyed Woods had shot a 16-under 272 for a two-stroke victory over David Duval.
The Tiger Slam was born. This more than anything else made the biggest impression on the Windermere, Fla., resident when he looked back on the season.
"I think I'll remember the fact that I had a chance to do something that no one's ever done before in our sport," Woods said. "And I was somehow able to pull it off. It's something that I will always remember."
There were other highlights, including his third-consecutive triumphs in both Ohio events, the Memorial Tournament (by seven shots over Sergio Garcia) and the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational (after a seven-hole playoff against defending Mercedes Championships winner Jim Furyk).
Woods enters 2002 with two chances to tie Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen for the all-time record for most consecutive victories in an event. Additionally, Woods prevailed in the Bay Hill Invitational and The Players Championship by one stroke each leading up to his Masters conquest. That was his second three-tournament winning streak in as many seasons. There had only been three others since 1980.
He didn't miss a cut in 19 starts, extending his current string to 78 tournaments. Only twice since turning professional in 1996 has he finished out of the money, and one of those was by withdrawal.
On the strength of nine top-10 finishes, Woods, the career money leader on the PGA Tour, earned $5,687,777 for his third straight Arnold Palmer Award. That constituted the third-highest earnings year ever behind his 2000 and 1999 totals. His adjusted stroke average of 68.81 indeed was more than one stroke higher than in 2000, but last year's 67.79 was an all-time record. He still won his third-straight Vardon Trophy.
And for the third year in a row and fourth time in five years he claimed the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour Player of the Year. Woods ended the year with 29 career victories, tying Nicklaus for the all-time record for wins by a player in his 20s. Figure Woods to break the record. He just turned 26.
"I played pretty solid all year and I was very fortunate enough to play good in some big events," Woods said. "It's been a very successful year, in spite of everything. It wasn't quite as good as last year, but I'm still pretty proud of this year."