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Woods building momentum toward masters
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-07 08:53
MIAMI - The road to the Masters usually starts with the Florida swing on the
PGA Tour, although Tiger Woods already had a head start even before he arrived
at Doral.
He began 2006 with a victory at Torrey Pines, making a birdie on the last
hole and winning when Jose Maria Olazabal missed a 4-foot par putt in the
playoff. He birdied his last two holes in Dubai to get into a playoff with Ernie
Els, wsinning when the South African found the water.
But his victory on the Blue Monster might have been the best proof that Woods
is getting closer to having full command of swing changes he has worked on with
Hank Haney the last two years.
It was his 10th wire-to-wire victory among his 48 titles on the PGA Tour. And
it was another case of Woods doing whatever was required — birdies early in his
round to keep his two-stroke cushion, back-to-back birdies when David Toms
closed within one stroke and a safe shot when a bogey was good enough to win.
After his third victory in five starts this year, Woods was asked about his
confidence.
"Pretty high, considering I've put myself there in virtually every event," he
said.
Monday's world ranking gave Woods more than double the points over Vijay
Singh, the first time his lead has been that large in three years.
Beyond the trophies, however, are the opportunities. And that's where Woods
has separated himself from the pack.
Dating to the U.S. Open last year at Pinehurst, Woods has either won or
finished second in nine of his last 14 events on the PGA Tour. It is similar,
although not quite as pronounced, as the streak he enjoyed at the start of the
2000 season when he won or was runner-up in 10 of 11 tournaments.
"Put it this way," Woods said. "If I hit a couple of bad shots, I feel like
it's not the end of the world. I can fit it and I can move on and I can still
post a really good number. Before, it would be damage control and somehow try
and wheel around it and shoot somewhere around par or even under par. But that's
not the case."
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