World Belongs to Tiger Woods after Commanding Win

Basketball great Larry Bird once praised Michael Jordan as being God in disguise.

In golf, Tiger Woods is perhaps deserving of that comparison now, winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona, yesterday.

Woods defeated Stewart Cink in an 8-7 victory, the largest margin in the history of the event. Cink said in defeat, “I think maybe we ought to slice him open to see what’s inside there. Maybe nuts and bolts.”

The tournament is famous for unexpected outcomes, but Woods set himself apart on the desert course. He birdied 47 and eagled two of the 117 holes from the first round to the final, topping all other competitors. He also birdied 14 out of 29 holes yesterday.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden, last year’s champion, finished third.

Woods has won four straight PGA Tour events, and five worldwide. More importantly, his latest victory has pushed him past Arnold Palmer for number four on the tour’s all-time victory list.

Woods has won 29 percent of tournaments (63 victories out of 273 events) he has entered, ahead of Ben Hogan’s 26 percent and Jack Nicklaus 16 percent.

Taking home 1.35 million dollars yesterday, Woods is now this season’s top earner with 2.29 million dollars. He has raked in 19.9 million dollars in 15 victories in WGC tournaments, which are now jokingly referred to the “Woods golf champion.”

He will take a two-week break before competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

kjs0123@donga.com