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Dripping in red Woods can become first to finish under par in every event
No one in the history of the PGA Tour has gone an entire season playing each tournament under par, but Tiger Woods has a great chance. So far, Woods has finished under par in all 13 of the events he has played, with his worst score being a 4-under-par total at the Masters. In fact, the last time Woods finished over par in a tournament was the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie, where he finished plus-10. Jack Nicklaus came the closest to accomplishing the feat in 1973, when a single even-par tournament spoiled the soup.
Big Easy a big-time short-game masterErnie Els may be perceived as a power player, but the big South African's greatest strength is touch. Els leads the tour in scrambling, getting up and
down for par 68.4 percent of the time. In 1993, Greg Norman, another perceived power player, saved par or better 72.8 percent of the time after missing a green. That's the best mark in the category since the tour began keeping the statistic 10 years ago.
Hale of a closerHale Irwin has become the ultimate finisher. Since joining the Senior Tour in 1996, his final-round average has never been higher than 69.55. This year, it's a sizzling 67.69, nearly a full stroke lower than the next best in the category, Tom Watson .
Webb can make major historyKarrie Webb has a lot to gain at this week's du Maurier Classic. A victory would make her the first woman to win three major championships in one year since Pat Bradley's tremendous 1986 season. Winning would also earn her a $1 million bonus from Nabisco.
Kite flying high with flat stickTom Kite is on a record Senior Tour pace for hitting greens in regulation with a mark of 77.8 percent. Considering that he also ranks a very respectable 12th in what has been considered his Achilles heel -- putting - it's surprising that Kite hasn't won more than twice so far in his rookie year.
Nicklaus magic more than long overdueIt just doesn't seem right that Nicklaus has gone through the 2000 season without a magic moment. Nicklaus had high expectations for his grand exit from serious championship golf, but other than a second round 70 at the Masters that put him in contention, his game simply hasn't risen to the occasion. The hip replacement has worked fine, but, uncharacteristically, the putter's let him down. One thing is certain. Nicklaus' pride and sure sense of the moment will be working overtime at next week's PGA Championship. On a course he designed, in the final curtain call of his final go round -- if there's any justice in the world -- the magic moment will come.Sports Illustrated senior writer Jaime Diaz covers the golf beat for the magazine and appears each Saturday on CNN's "Sports Ilustrated Golf Plus" show. Chat with Jaime each Monday at 1 p.m. EDT at CNNSI.com.
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