Tiger Woods at the Target World Challenge: "Every shot I wanted to hit, I hit."
Bet on Tiger Woods – he is brilliant
It was an impressive home victory, even though the tournament, which Woods hosts, doesn't count as an official victory. After the triumph at the Target World Challenge at Thousand Oaks in California, Tiger said: "Every shot I wanted to hit, I hit." Almost irreproachable performance – missing two fairways and one green in closing with a 5-under 66 for a two-shot victory – enabled Woods to seal victory over Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and reserve a poll position for the start of 2005 season.
It has been a difficult year for Tiger Woods – no PGA Tour stroke-play victories for the first time in his career, no majors for the second straight season. But Tiger he is clearly determined to turn the page. Luckily, the off-season is quite short.
It was Woods' second straight stroke-play title after going without one on the US Tour. Woods won the Dunlop Phoenix on the Japanese tour last month by eight shots. The Target World Challenge is the last of the silly-season events and doesn't count as an official victory.
Tiger Woods finished at 16-under 268 and won $1.25 million, which he donated to his foundation.
Harrington got into contention with a 31 on the front nine and kept pace until a couple of errant shots cost him on the final three holes. The Irishman closed with a bogey for a 66, his only consolation a $750,000 check.
Colin Montgomerie, who had a two-shot lead and was trying to win his first stroke-play title in the United States, bogeyed the first hole and never caught up. He shot 71 and finished at 13-under 271 with Jay Haas who did 69.
"I felt very comfortable with my swing," Woods said. "I figured Monty or Jay was going to put something up on the front. I didn't think Harrington would shoot 5 under. I had to keep pace, and I felt like I did that."
So what’s is next? A three-week break before the PGA Tour season begins at Kapalua with the Mercedes Championships.
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