SIXTH SENSE: A LOOK AT TIGER WOODS' WINNING STREAK

L.A. Times Archives

Feb. 8, 2000 12 AM PT

1: Aug. 29, 1999

NEC Invitational

Site: Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio.

Winning score: 270.

Margin of victory: 1 stroke over Phil Mickelson.

Earnings: $1 million.

Summary: With five birdies over a seven-hole stretch--none longer than 10 feet--Woods seized control in the third round with an eight-under 62, giving him a five-stroke lead over Fred Couples. Mickelson birdied five of the first seven holes Sunday to close the gap and was only one stroke behind after Woods made bogey on No. 16. Woods made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th for a two-stroke lead, and two-putted for bogey on the last hole for a 71.

Noteworthy: It was the first time Woods has led after the first round and gone on to win.

2: Oct. 24, 1999

National Car Rental Classic

Site: Palm and Magnolia courses, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Winning score: 271.

Margin of victory: 1 stroke over Ernie Els.

Earnings: $450,000.

Summary: Woods opened with three rounds of six-under 66 and was tied with Bob Tway going into the final round. Tway fell out of contention by hitting into the water on No. 12. Els caught Woods with birdies on three of the first four holes on the back nine. The tournament was effectively decided on the 17th. Els left his approach on a ridge, hit his 35-foot birdie putt off the green and made bogey. Woods, in the group behind, hit his approach below the pin and two-putted for par. He finished with a 73.

Noteworthy: It was the second successive tournament in which Woods shot over par in the final round and still won.

3: Oct. 31, 1999

Tour Championship

Site: Champions Golf Club, Houston.

Winning score: 269.

Margin of victory: 4 strokes over Davis Love III.

Earnings: $900,000.

Summary: With a pall over the tour because of Payne Stewart’s death in a plane crash, Woods trailed Love by one stroke after the first day of 27 holes. Woods injured his wrist trying to hit through a rock on No. 15 and winced on every shot after that. Players had Friday off to attend Stewart’s memorial service in Orlando. Woods was six-under on 27 holes Saturday to take a three-stroke lead over Chris Perry, and closed with a 69 and led by at least two the entire round.

Noteworthy: Including his victory in Germany, Woods, 23, became the youngest player to win eight times in a season since 21-year-old Horton Smith in 1929.

4: Nov. 7, 1999

WGC-American Express

Championship

Site: Valderrama Golf Club, Spain.

Winning score: 278.

Margin of victory: First playoff hole over Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Earnings: $1 million.

Summary: Woods was on his way to a spectacular 66 on Sunday--the course average that day was 75.1--when he came to the par-five 17th with a two-shot lead. His third shot, a nine-iron from 100 yards, trickled 40 feet off the green and into the water. Woods made triple bogey, wound up with a 68 and appeared certain to finish second when Jimenez parred the 17th. But Jimenez bogeyed the last hole, and Woods won with a 12-foot birdie on the first playoff hole.

Noteworthy: Woods became the first player since Johnny Miller to win eight PGA Tour events in one year.

5: Jan. 9, 2000

Mercedes Championship

Site: Kapalua Golf Club, Maui, Hawaii.

Winning score: 276.

Margin of victory: Second playoff hole over Ernie Els.

Earnings: $522,000.

Summary: Woods and Els were tied after 54 holes and turned the final round into a classic duel. Neither player led by more than one stroke. Both made eagle on the par-five 18th to force the playoff. Els reached the 18th in two in the playoff, narrowly missed his eagle putt and Woods made a six-footer to match the birdie. On the second playoff hole, No. 1, Woods made a 40-foot putt, downhill but into the grain with 2 1/2 feet of break. Els’ 35-foot attempt stopped just short.

Noteworthy: It was the 14th consecutive time Woods has won worldwide when he has had at least a share of the lead after 54 holes.

6: Feb. 7, 2000

AT&T; Pebble Beach

National Pro-Am

Dates: Feb. 3-7.

Site: Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills courses, Pebble Beach.

Winning score: 273.

Margin of victory: Two strokes over Vijay Singh and Matt Gogel.

Earnings: $720,000.

Summary: Seven strokes behind Gogel with seven holes to play Monday, Woods holed a 97-yard wedge shot for eagle on No. 15 and birdied two of the last three holes. Woods closed with an eight-under 64, the lowest final round by a champion in the 53-year history of Pebble Beach. Gogel, the 28-year-old tour rookie, missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th that would have forced a playoff. .

Noteworthy: Woods is the first player since Ben Hogan in 1948 to win six consecutive tour events.

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TIGER’S CAREER AT A GLANCE

Tournaments: 72

Cuts made: 70

Wins: 17

2nd: 4

3rd: 7

Top 10: 45

Top 25: 59

Money $12,557,128

Scoring Average 69.05