Woods Appeases Thirst for Victory

Is the `world of Woods` opening again?

`Golf King` Tiger Woods, who had been crownless in the first 6 tournaments of this season, has finally satisfied his thirst for victory in the U.S. PGA Tour Bay Hill Invitational (total prizes of 4 million dollars).

Woods, especially, set various new records in the tournament, and some are saying that he had been delaying his first victory to have a `special` party.

Woods hit 3-under 69 in the 4th round that took place at Oralando’s Bay Hill GC (par 72), Florida, on the 18th. His total score of 13-under outran `northern sphere’s Woods`, Michael Campbell (New Zealand) by 4 strokes.

Being at the top for the first time in the season, Woods claimed the tournament’s 3rd consecutive victory, which no other player was able to succeed in the tournament’s 37-year history. Also, his individual summary has now reached his 30th career title, making him the youngest (26 year-old) player in the history of the U.S. Tour to record 30 wins.

Woods also has already enjoyed victory in Memorial and NEC Invitational for 3 years in a row, and this time in the U.S. Tour, he marked an impressive record of the first `3 tournaments – 3 titles`.

That was not all. He earned the winning prize worth 720,000 dollars, adding up to 1,575,500 dollars in the season. He overtook the second runner, Brad Faxon (U.S.A.), of 1,243,555 dollars, and has shone positive light on the 4th-year consecutive title on the money list.

In last year also, Woods began with this tournament’s title to claim 3 titles including `the 5th major` Players Championship and the season’s first major tournament, Master’s. Great attention is focused on whether he will reenact the same glory.

Tournament host Arnold Palmer, who has seen his record of 2 tournament – 3 consecutive titles being broken at the scene, said, “In this day and age, that’s an amazing thing. But he continues to do amazing things.”

Taking the lead of thin ice on the previous day, Woods displayed his `disallowance of overtaking` that helped him win 22 titles in 24 tournaments in the past, and dismissed chasers.

Woods enraged in anger because of bogey in the first hole on the day and actually threw the putter on the ground, but led a skillful play into victory with 3 birdies and no bogey in the second half.

On the other side, left-hand Phil Mickelson (U.S.A.), who once outran Woods to take the lead in the leader board, stayed at tied 3rd with 8-under.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com