Has 48-4 record on PGA Tour when leading after three rounds
Tiger Woods has a 48-4 record in PGA Tour events when leading or tied for the lead entering the final round.
That’s the daunting history that faces players trying to run down Woods Sunday in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. At Bay Hill on Saturday, Woods overcame back-nine malfunction — hitting shots into bunkers or out of bounds on five straight holes — to shoot a 1-under 71 and has a one-stroke lead.
Another reason to expect Woods to close the deal: He’s won this event six times. The WGC Bridgestone is the only tournament he’s captured more times (seven).
The only unsettling aspect for Woods: Graeme McDowell is in second place. The former U.S. Open champion came from four shots down at the 2010 Chevron World Challenge and beat Woods in a playoff. Of Woods’ blown leads this was the widest margin. It came in a non-PGA Tour event. Oddly enough, Woods has a 4-5 record as a professional when leading non-PGA Tour events.
Woods’ blown leads on the PGA Tour:
1996 Quad City — Led by one-stroke. Lost to Ed Fiori by four.
2000 TOUR Championship — Tied with Vijay Singh. Lost to Phil Mickelson by two.
2004 TOUR Championship – Tied with Jay Haas. Lost to Retief Goosen by four.
2009 PGA – Led by two over Y.E. Yang and Padraig Harrington. Lost to Yang by three.
Woods blown leads in non-PGA Tour events:
2000 Deutsche Bank SAP – Led by two over five players. Lost to Lee Westwood by four.
2001 Dubai Desert Classic – Led by one over Thomas Bjorn. Lost to Bjorn in a playoff.
2006 Dunlop (Japan) – Tied with Padraig Harrington. Lost to Harrington in a playoff.
2010 Chevron – Led by four over Graeme McDowell. Lost to McDowell in a playoff.
2011 Abu Dhabi – Tied with Robert Rock. Lost to Rock by two.
