Woods decimates field by eight shots at Amex
IN: News | European PGA | American Express Championship (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 02 Oct 2006
Whether he goes on to become the greatest player the game has ever seen (if he isn't already) there is little doubt that Tiger Woods will be recognised as the greatest front runner the game has seen. In yet another example of his remarkable capacity to lead and then toy with the opposition, Woods led from his opening round of 64 at the WGC American Express World Golf Championship event at the Grove in England and from that point on there was little chance of anyone getting near him.
Woods would eventually win by eight shots over both Adam Scott and Ian Poulter with a further shot back to Jim Furyk.
For the world number one, it was his eighth win of the PGA Tour season, his sixth in succession and his 54th PGA Tour victory in his career. Those of course are only the wins in official PGA Tour events and there have been several on other Tours to make his already stunning list of titles even more so. Including his win in Dubai earlier in this year, he has won nine events in 2006.
Woods will now take this week off and the question remains as to when he will be back next. It might be at the Funai Classic in Orlando in two weeks time where he missed the cut last year or the Tour Championship, the latter of which will, should he win, give him the greatest amount of money earnings in any one season on the USPGA Tour. That title is currently held by Vijay Singh, whose US$10.9 million in 2004 remains the record at this stage. A win in Atlanta will take Woods beyond US$11 million.
Jim Furyk made an early move on the final day with birdies at the first and second but when Woods hit the most magnificent of long irons to the second to less than four feet, he looked as if he might add his fourth eagle of the week. He surprisingly missed the putt but he had his birdie and he was on his way once again.
The challenge would effectively be for second place and Ian Poulter, who had won by five shots in Switzerland two weeks earlier, was the first to put up his hand when he was round in 66 to post his 15 under total. Adam Scott has developed a level of consistency in 2006 that has previously been missing from his game and today he would provide another example of how far he has come this season. He made a delightful up and down for birdie at the last to join Poulter on 15 under, which was worth a lot of money to him.
Scott earned US$610,000 and has taken his earnings on the USPGA Tour in 2006 to US$3.8 million which, despite not winning, is the highest amount of money he has earned to date in any one season on the PGA Tour. That greater level of consistency mentioned earlier is highlighted by his three runner up placings and three third placings in 2006 and very importantly it has been a season which has seen him achieve his best finish in a major when third at the USPGA Championship.
Jim Furyk was fourth after calling a shot on himself which he could have avoided if he so wished. At the 6th hole Furyk almost lost his ball until Ian Poulter stood on it while helping him look for it. In doing so Poulter provided the option for Furyk to take a free drop which would have taken him clear of the predicament he was in but to his credit he decided to take a penalty drop.
"The rules official said when he stepped on it, he probably moved the ball, which is correct, so I was going to get a drop," said Furyk. "You know, I dropped it in an area where I still probably couldn't have gotten the ball on the green; maybe I could have. I just felt like it was definitely taking advantage of the situation so I took an unplayable lie, went back about 50 yards, I wedged up about a foot and made my 5 anyway. It was kind of even anyway and my conscience was good."
Furyk made a late bogey at the 17th when between clubs with his approach, which would cost him a share of second.
Ernie Els had another good week for a 5th ahead of the next best Australian after Scott, Stuart Appleby, whose last round of 66 saw him improve ten places on the final day to earn US$216,000.
Nick O'Hern and Robert Allenby were 26th, Rod Pampling 38th and Craig Parry 58th.
The European Tour now heads to Scotland for the Dunhill Links Championship while the USPGA Tour moves to Greensboro for the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.
Photo - Anthony Powter
