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Tamed Tiger Woods latest victory an exercise in patience
Posted: Friday November 12, 1999 11:15 AM
For all his brilliant shotmaking during the final round of the American Express Championship last Sunday, it was his poised reaction to disaster that best demonstrated why Tiger Woods is becoming such a formidable champion. Leading by two on Valderrama's 17th hole, Woods hit his 9-iron approach from 100 yards exactly as he intended -- low and without much backspin. When the ball landed 20 feet beyond the pin and appeared to stop, Woods, believing he now had the tournament in the bag, allowed himself to celebrate by exchanging some skin with caddy Steve Williams. But that's when a gathering roar caused Woods to do a double take, and he saw his ball roll past the pin and into the water. Although shocked and angry, Woods showed no emotion. He remained calm and finished the hole with a triple bogey 8 to fall a stroke behind Miguel Angel Jimenez. About the 18th hole, "My only thought was to make a three." said Woods. He didn't, but when Jimenez bogeyed the 72nd, a still stoic Woods returned to the 18th tee and hit another perfect drive. When the unnerved Jimenez followed with a killing hook into the trees, Woods had survived. It was an extraordinary and telling display of determination and focus. The reviews for the last of the three inaugural World Golf Championships were on the plus side, but barely. Woods' eighth victory of the year made for history, and there was real drama at the finish. On the minus side, there were a dearth of spectators in southern Spain, and Valderrama proved itself less than a great course to the players, most of whom consider it awkward and tricked up -- especially the 17th hole. After it hosts the American Express next year, there's a good chance Valderrama will be dumped as the event's European site in favor of a more populous area like Barcelona or Madrid. The problem will be in finding another suitable golf course in a country with few good ones. The best solution might be for the International Federation of PGA Tours to build an elite, stadium style course specifically for the event. Sports Illustrated senior writer Jaime Diaz covers the golf beat and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's Pro Golf Weekly.
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