AVIDGOLFER

Golf Wins Again As Tiger Contends Late Into Sunday At PGA Championship

Rick Arnett /

Tiger Woods was the story on Sunday. Yes, Brooks Koepka didn’t blink to win (his 3rd major win in his last 6 starts), but TW was in the hunt until the very end (okay until he he blew his drive right on 17). It felt like old times but this was better because even the most ardent Tiger haters found themselves rooting for him as he unbelievably rallied from  bad decisions, multiple surgeries, drug dependency, chip yips and dealing with an older than his 42-years on the planet.

It was simply glorious. Magical. Turn-back-the-clock giddy. The galleries were stupendous. Even the other players knew Woods was back to dominating the roars. Koepka talked about he and his caddie laughing as the various on-course leaderboards updated around the course and the raucous roars reacted to each Tiger birdie.

But Eldrick’s driver once again was his nemesis that he still somehow overcame with some incredible irons and canning the putts.

He nearly gave new ball sponsor Bridgestone a Nike Augusta moment that the 10-20 deep gallery could’ve assisted.

Theres no doubt after watching Sunday that Woods is more than capable of winning another major or two. Woods’ posted his best ever final round an total major score ever.

And this…

 

Sean Zak describes the circus atmosphere following Tiger.

At 5:06 p.m. Sunday, as Tiger Woods walked to the 17th tee box at Bellerive Country Club, just one shot back of the lead at the 100th PGA Championship, some fans said screw it.

Marshals on the hole had pulled their rope tight, just not tight enough. As one fan pushed on the white woven rope, it dropped to the ground, and like a dam springing a leak, a stream of spectators sprinted over it. “You can’t stop us!” shouted four bros leading the charge. The group — five dozen or so strong — had been freed from the west side of the hole, which meant they could now position themselves on the east side. That’s where Tiger Woods was about to continue his seemingly quite attainable quest for a 15th major.

“It felt a little bit like a football atmosphere,” Woods’s caddie, Joe LaCava, said after the round. “You know, in a good way. People were jacked up.”

“I think, other than me and my team, everybody was rooting for Tiger,” said public enemy No. 1 Brooks Koepka. “I mean, as they should.”

“It was awesome,” said Woods’s playing partner Gary Woodland. “In that atmosphere, there’s nothing like it, the energy in that place was unbelievable.” Woodland gutted out a par of his own on 17 and a 72-hole score of 10 under, his best career finish in a major. He was far from the only pro enjoying it. “No matter what hole you were on, you knew what Tiger did,” Adam Scott said. “It’s a really fun atmosphere to be in.”

“Being a part of that as a fan is cool, and even when you’re playing, it’s still pretty neat,” Koepka said. “It kind of pushes you to step up your game. I mean, you have to because you know he’s right there if you fall.”

This was also a refreshing sign of the new, improved and more mature Tiger Woods. Seriously, when was the last time you saw this? It’s one of the reasons I found myself rooting for him rather than just to contend and validating the tournament.


The sea of patrons was a welcome sight.

The Masters can’t arrive soon enough.

Adam Scott Brooks Koepka galleries PGA Championship Tiger Woods