Woods Shows He's Too Good at Memorial

L.A. Times Archives

June 4, 2001 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

DUBLIN, Ohio —

Three consecutive Memorial titles came easy enough for Tiger Woods. Next up is a streak that was once unthinkable--five consecutive majors.

Woods continued his almost methodical dominance of golf Sunday, seizing control with a brilliant two-iron on the fifth hole on his way to a final-round six-under-par 66 and his third Memorial tournament win in a row.

Woods’ final tuneup before the U.S. Open at Southern Hills was all but over by the time the leaders headed for the back nine, making the final holes a playground for Woods as he romped to a seven-shot victory over Paul Azinger and Sergio Garcia.

It came with such ease that Azinger apologized to Woods as they walked down the 17th hole.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a better player for you today,” he told Woods.

Woods’ fellow competitors were left to wonder what chance they might have when the Open begins in Tulsa, Okla., a week from Thursday.

“I would say he’s probably the most dominant athlete in the history of sports,” Azinger said.

That is open to debate, but there was little debate Sunday of Woods’ greatness.

Even host Jack Nicklaus watched in awe.

“Certainly since I’ve been playing the sport I’ve never found anyone who dominated more,” Nicklaus said. “In other sports guys have dominated, but I don’t think anyone has dominated like he has.”

Woods played 22 holes in seven under on a day when he had to finish a suspended third round and then go out and chase Azinger’s one-shot advantage in the final round.

The key shot was a two-iron that flew high 249 yards over land and water before dropping softly on the fifth green and leaving Woods only a four-foot uphill putt for eagle.

“It was a moon shot,” Azinger said.

“I was just praying it was enough club,” Woods said.

The result impressed even the winner.

“I’m amazed by some of the shots I was able to pull off this week,” Woods said. “If I wanted to step up there and hit a two-iron 250 yards in the air and I was able to do it, I did it consistently. That, to me, is kind of cool.”

More impressive was the methodical and precise way with which Woods made his way around Muirfield Village Golf Club, while his opponents were hitting shots into the water, missing key putts and whiffing chips.

Woods particularly dominated on the par-fives, where he was 14 under for the week and with his length able to get on in two even when his opponents had no chance.

“I put myself in a position to win. That always gives you confidence knowing you have done it in the past,” Woods said.

Woods made only one bogey, from a greenside bunker on No. 8, and when he finally did hit a wayward shot off the tee on 14 it hit a tree branch and popped out into the light rough. Woods promptly went on to birdie the hole.

Azinger was leading by one on the par-five, 527-yard fifth but had just put a three-wood into the water fronting the green when Woods stood in the middle of the fairway and hit the shot that nestled gently near the flag.

The large crowd had been relatively subdued to that point, but erupted when Woods hit the shot and then again a few minutes later when he made the eagle putt to take the lead for good.

“After Paul hit his shot I needed to get the ball on dry land,” Woods said. “I was lucky enough to make three.”

Azinger bogeyed the hole and the next, and by the time Woods tapped in a short birdie putt on the par-five seventh he had a three-shot lead over Azinger and Stuart Appleby and it never got any closer.

“He was able to coast on in,” Azinger said.

Azinger finished with a two-over 74, and Garcia had a final-round 71. Appleby, who played with Woods in the final group and was only two shots back at one point, shot a 74 that included a quadruple bogey on the 12th hole.

“Not too much amazes me anymore, but it’s still amazing,” Nicklaus said of Woods.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TIGER IN 2001

Tournaments: 10

Wins: 4

2nd: 0

3rd: 1

Top 10: 8

Top 25: 10

Money: $4,235,857

Career Wins: 28

Career Money: $24,759,307