The Woods-Williams combination does it again at Amex
IN: News | US PGA | American Express Championship (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 06 Oct 2003
When first created nearly five years ago the World Golf Championships had the mission of pitting the best against the best and as a result identifying the best in the game. Four and a half years later it would be fair to say it is a case of mission accomplished.
Today Tiger Woods won his seventh of the fifteen individual titles that have been played since the inaugural World Golf Championship event in March of 1999, when he took out the American Express Championship in Woodstock, Georgia. He has also won a World Cup of Golf so his domination of these events reflects his domination of golf generally in that time.
His two shot victory over Tim Herron, Stuart Appleby and Vijay Singh takes him to the top of the 2003 money list, leap-frogging Vijay Singh, who up until now, had held the lead. The Fijian now trails Woods by approx. $US150,000 and with only a handful of tournaments to be played in 2003, he will need to continue his solid form to regain the top position.
Woods led the event from early in round two and, although challenged by Singh and Herron today, there was always the feeling that Woods would not let this opportunity slip. Not only was it a great day for Woods but it signalled a milestone in the career of his caddy Steve Williams.
This was Steve Williams' 100th win as a caddy and Tiger paid tribute to him immediately following his win. "He has been a great part of my success" said Woods. Many of those wins came with players such as Greg Norman, Ray Floyd and others but it has been his unique ability to handle the pressures of what could only be a demanding all round role with Woods that has seen him really shine. Headhunted by the Woods camp in early 1999, Steve has been on the bag for 36 of Woods' 44 career wins worldwide.
Stuart Appleby became the leading Australian on the 2003 USPGA Tour money list with his strong finish to share second. It was his second runner up position in consecutive starts and his third of the season following on from his Houston Open and Lumber Classic performances. He earns close to US$400,000 today and has earnings of $US1,750,000 for the season surpassing any previous year and takes his career earnings to more than $US9 million.
Vijay Singh perhaps disappointed in round four when in a position to challenge the dominance of Tiger but faded over the back nine. Still the US$400,000 or so he earns for second, keeps him in the running for money list honours. With several big money events still to come, including the season ending Tour Championship, there still exists the opportunity to grab the money list title.
Tim Herron plugged away and at one stage looked to threaten Tiger when he got within one stroke through twelve holes but his challenge faded with four bogeys in the last five holes. It is Herron's second biggest cheque as a professional.
Robert Allenby's last round 65 saved what had been a very ordinary week to that point, moving him to 21st, Peter Lonard was 37th, Adam Scott was 40th, Peter O'Malley faded with an 80 for 44th, Craig Parry 54th and Michael Campbell 68th in the 72-man field.
The USPGA Tour now moves to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas International and the Europeans head back to Holland for the Dutch Open.
