Woods wraps up Target title
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The final putt of the year safely in the hole for par and another victory, Tiger Woods was quickly reminded what kind of year 2007 turned out to be.
First, he walked over to his 6-month-old daughter, dressed in a red fleece top, for a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the head. Then came the presentation on the 18th green at Sherwood Country Club, where Woods collected his eighth trophy of the year.
He became a father for the first time in June. He won his 13th career major in August at the PGA Championship. He swept all the major awards to further separate himself from the rest of golf. The final piece came Sunday at the Target World Challenge, a 7-shot victory and a $1.35 million check that goes to his Tiger Woods Learning Center.
"This year on the golf course, it's been a great year," Woods said. "Off the golf course, it's been the greatest year I've ever had."
Woods first understood what he called the "power of family" when Padraig Harrington made double bogey on the 18th hole at Carnoustie and was all smiles when he saw his son, Patrick, while waiting to see if there would be a playoff at the British Open.
There was no such suspense at Sherwood, at least not for long.
Jim Furyk cut a 6-shot lead down to 2 at the turn and was poised to get even closer on the 10th hole. Woods holed a 12-foot birdie putt up the slope, and Furyk 3-putted for bogey from 4 feet above the hole. It was a stunning 2-shot swing, and Woods soon restored his margin and coasted to victory.
He closed with a 4-under 68 to tie the tournament record at 22-under 266, making him the first player to win consecutive titles at this year-end tournament for an elite, 16-man field.
Masters champion Zach Johnson won the B-flight and a load of Christmas cash. Johnson birdied the last hole for a 68 to finish second, worth $840,000. Furyk, who hit another tee shot in the water for double bogey on the 15th, shot a 71 to finish third and won $570,000.
The margin of victory was the largest at this tournament in its nine-year history, and it was the third time this year that Woods won a tournament by 7 shots or more. And this after taking a 10-week break.
"Doesn't help us, does it?" Colin Montgomerie said. "If he took a bloody year off, it would help. Never mind 10 weeks."