Unstoppable Woods Wins Fourth in Row

L.A. Times Archives

Nov. 8, 1999 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

SOTOGRANDE, Spain —

As long as Tiger Woods is around, even the greatest streak in golf no longer seems safe.

On Sunday, Woods became the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win four consecutive events on the PGA Tour, beating Miguel Angel Jimenez on the first playoff hole to capture the American Express Championship and make him golf’s first $6-million man.

Could Byron Nelson’s record be next?

“Hopefully, next year I’ll play the same type of golf, and we’ll see about the number of victories,” Woods said.

Nelson holds the PGA Tour record with 11 straight victories in 1945, a streak regarded as even more out of reach than the 18 major championships that Jack Nicklaus won.

Still, nothing seems beyond Woods’ reach at the moment.

Despite a triple bogey on the tricked-up 17th hole of Valderrama Golf Club, despite a Spanish gallery that was cheering his every mistake--there weren’t many--Woods ended one of the most memorable years in golf with an unforgettable finish.

“I’ve had a great season, and it’s nice to end it this way and to get a victory on a tough, tough, tough day,” he said.

Tough? Bizarre was more like it.

He made his winning putt under floodlights around the 18th green, with the Spanish Civil Army decked out in their paramilitary suits, holding back a throng of fans in the fairway.

And only an hour earlier, it appeared the greatest round of Woods’ career would be wasted on the diabolical No. 17, where an apparent perfect shot rolled helplessly off the green and into the water.

“You can’t get down on yourself for hitting good shots,” Woods said. “The execution of the shots were all good. It’s just unfortunate.”

Jimenez, cheered by a Spanish gallery so partisan that it brought back memories of the Ryder Cup, made a bogey on the last hole to fall back into a tie and allow Woods another chance.

He took advantage, as he has done all year, earning another $1-million payoff.

Woods has won eight times in his last 11 tournaments, including a victory against a world-class field in Germany. He became the first player since Johnny Miller in 1974 with eight PGA Tour victories in one season, a feat matched by only five others.

By finishing the year with four straight victories, a streak that started and ended with a World Golf Championship title, he earned $6.6 million, nearly $3 million more than David Duval.

Woods closed with a three-under 68, one of only six players to break par on the wind-swept day at Valderrama. Jimenez had a 69 as both finished at 278. Dudley Hart had a 70 and was at 283, the only other player who finished the tournament under par.

Lost in the mayhem of the 17th--11 players had a double bogey or worse on Sunday--was a round so remarkable that Woods was six-under over a six-hole stretch in the middle of his round and was on pace for a score 10 strokes better than the course average of 75.1 in the final round.

“He’s on a mission,” said his caddie, Steve Williams, as they walked to the 13th tee.

Woods could do no wrong. From under a forest of cork trees, he found an opening no larger than a hot tub and squeaked out a par on No. 13, then busted a six-iron through the stiff wind to within three feet for a birdie on the next hole.

“Incredible,” Jim Furyk said after he finished his round and looked back at a scoreboard that showed Woods at 10 under. “This round he’s having represents what has happened in the last part of the year.”

But after his first bogey of the round on No. 16, Woods watched a perfect day come unraveled on a hole that has been redesigned three times.

Woods already had one bad memory of the hole by hitting across the green and into the water during the Ryder Cup in 1997. This was different, a strategy marked by smart decisions and a damaging result.

He drove into the fairway, laid up with a six-iron and had 100 yards to the hole, which was on the bottom shelf. Woods hit a nine-iron, two clubs more than normal to avoid spinning down the hill, and thought he was perfect.

“You don’t spin back a nine-iron, at least I don’t,” he said. “It just kind of rolled back. It actually picked up speed by the hole, as if a wind gust hit it.”

Even more shocking was the gallery, which jumped and cheered as the ball trickled 35 feet--past the pin, off the green, down the slope and into the water.

Woods, striding confidently toward the green, froze when the ball disappeared.

“It was disappointing to hear the sounds, but understandable,” Woods said. “They obviously wanted him [Jimenez] to win.”

Woods took a drop and hit to the top shelf, then watched Tom Lehman’s chip from the same area nearly come to a stop on the green, then roll down the shelf and keep going into the water. Woods three-putted for his triple bogey.

“He played great today,” Lehman said. “To have a tournament possibly decided when you make an eight and not miss a shot. . . . Golf is not meant to be that way.”

Jimenez, two groups behind, appeared to have the tournament won when his approach stayed on the green and he made a six-foot par putt to stay one stroke ahead.

“I felt as if my chances were greatly diminished,” Woods said.

Jimenez’s bogey on the 18th gave Woods another chance. And he didn’t squander it.

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TIGER WOODS BY THE NUMBERS

$6.6M: Record $6,616,585 million earnings for PGA season.

4: Consecutive PGA victories, most sine Ben Hogan won four in 1953.

8: Most PGA season victories since Johnny Miller (1974) and Arnold Palmer (1960)

9: Victories worldwide in 1999

On Par for Greatness

Tiger Woods, above, won his eighth PGA tournament of the year Sunday. A closer look at what he has done in 1999:

Tournaments: 21

Victories: 8