Woods wins Dunlop Phoenix in tight playoff
IN: News | Japan | Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 20 Nov 2005
In what turned into a gripping final day, Tiger Woods somehow found a way to win the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament for the second consecutive year when at one stage during the final round he appeared to have a real struggle on his hands.
Woods started the final round with a narrow one shot lead over Jim Furyk and after a birdie at the first it appeared fait accompli that one of the game's greatest players would go on and win the event at will. Almost as soon as he had established control, however, it was gone when a bogey at the second was followed by a double bogey at the third and he was back at eight under. By the time they had reached the fifth tee, Japanese golfer and winner of this event in 2002, Kanamee Yokoo, who was playing in the final group with Woods and Furyk, had moved ahead. Yokoo birdied the first and the fourth holes to move one ahead of Woods and Furyk at that stage.
Yokoo played the USPGA Tour for three seasons from 2001 to 2003 and did well enough in that time to finish runner up to Chris DiMarco at the Phoenix Open in 2002. By the end of 2003 however his status in the US had run out and he was back in Japan. He had gained enough experience during that time for challenges of this nature to not be beyond him. He moved further ahead when he birdied the 6th and at that stage stood two ahead of Woods.
When the trio made the turn Yokoo was still one ahead but it was at that point that his round took a turn for the worst. Three consecutive bogeys from the 11th saw him fall one behind Woods but the 33-year-old was not about to go away. He birdied the 14th, 16th and 18th to move into a share of the lead with Woods, who was unable to birdie the reachable par five 18th.
Woods eventually won at the fourth extra hole with a two putt birdie to again snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was the typically never say die attitude that has marked Woods career and while Yokoo will no doubt be pleased with his week, he will be left wondering how he let this one get away. It was though, more a case of Woods winning, than Yokoo losing.
Jim Furyk faded over the last nine holes to finish alone in third with Katsumasa Miyamoto producing a brilliant last round of 66 to grab fourth. Fifth was the Spanish European Tour Rookie of the Year, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
David Duval, who had been in touch for most of the week did well to finish 7th despite a last round of 75. Given that he has not been in contention for so long, his last round was perhaps to be expected but much heart be taken from this week.
The best of the Australasians were Paul Sheehan and Michael Campbell, who finished 13th with Sheehan's last round of 66 gaining him twenty two places and a lot of money. Robert Allenby was 33rd, Chris Campbell 46th, David Smail 50th, Steve Conran 56th and Scott Laycock 59th.
10,000 golf fans turned up to watch the last round in temperatures that reached only 14 degrees celcius.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads to the Casio World Open.
Photo - Anthony Powter
