It’s 12 Over and Out for Woods

Tiger Woods closed with a 73, finished 12 over par, wound up tied for 39th, made six birdies in four days and then summed up his week at Oak Hill.

“Done,” Woods said.

It was well said. Woods played the four majors this year in a combined 18 over par, the worst in his seven years as a professional. Last year, when he won the Masters and the British Open, Woods played the four majors in 23 under par.

The PGA Championship was the third major in which Woods played all four rounds over par. The others were the 1998 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club and the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie.

His major-less streak will be at six straight when he arrives at Augusta National next April for the Masters.

Woods was philosophical about what happened this week.

“It was tough,” he said. “I didn’t hit the ball as well as I needed to. I putted great all week. Unfortunately, they were all for pars and a few for bogeys. I didn’t make any doubles for the week, though, which was good, the only good thing, I guess.

“I bogeyed one-fourth of the holes this week. That’s not good.”

Woods tied for 12th in putting and was fourth in driving distance, averaging 301.8 yards, but he made 18 bogeys, hit only 46.4% of his fairways and reached only 45.8% of the greens in regulation.

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Woods played with Aaron Baddeley, who wore a white shirt and bright pink slacks.

Said Woods: “We’re going from 13 to 14, some guy yells, says to his little kid, ‘It’s the Tiger and the Pink Panther.’ ”

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As a sidelight to Woods’ experience at Oak Hill, Walter Hagen’s record is safe, at least for a while. Hagen won at least one major for six consecutive years, a record. From 1924-29, Hagen won four PGA Championships and three British Open titles.

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Kenny Perry, one of the pre-tournament favorites, shot two-under 68 on Sunday to finish five-over 285.

Perry is a three-time winner on tour this year but was just happy to get out of Rochester alive. “That was the most difficult test I’ve ever been put to in all the majors, and I’ve played in a lot of majors,” he said.

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How tough was Oak Hill? Only five players shot sub-par rounds Sunday: Perry (68), Niclas Fasth (68), Tim Clark (69), Jay Haas (69) and Alex Cejka (69).

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Rod Pampling shared the first-round lead with Phil Mickelson, but finished at 286 after shooting 73 on Sunday.

“It was a great experience,” Pampling said. “Leading a major and having the pressures of leading a major, it’s just a great experience

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There are now four first-time major winners for the first time since 1969, when George Archer won the Masters, Orville Moody the U.S. Open, Tony Jacklin the British Open and Raymond Floyd the PGA.

This year’s winners were Mike Weir, Jim Furyk, Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel.

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Woods, when asked whether he would be back at Oak Hill if it is selected as the 2011 U.S. Open venue: “I just hope I’m not fertilizer then.”

Spread this around: Tiger would surely be an old man in 2011 -- 35 years old.

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The 2004 PGA Championship will be played at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.

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Woods’ Major Downfall

Tiger Woods’ finish in this year’s PGA Championship was his worst in a major since he turned professional (*amateur):

*--* YEAR Masters U.S. Open British Open PGA Champ 2003 T15 T20 T4 T39 2002 1 1 T28 2 2001 1 T12 T25 T29 2000 5 1 1 1 1999 T-18 T-3 T-7 1 1998 T-8 T-18 3 T-10 1997 1 T-19 T-24 T-29 1996 Cut* T-82* T-22* -- 1995 T-41* W/D* T-68* --

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