On Saturday’s bizarre day of fan-free golf in the AT&T National, it was fascinating to hear the often-audible banter between Tiger Woods and Bo Van Pelt. The two, born seven months apart, came up together through the junior ranks and were college golf rivals, Woods at Stanford and Van Pelt at Oklahoma State.
In Sunday’s final round, however, there was much less to discuss as it became apparent that they were locked in a match-play duel at Congressional Country Club.
For 15 holes, neither player flinched. When Woods made a 25-footer for birdie at No. 15, Van Pelt answered with his own from 10 feet to keep it even. But on the final three holes, Van Pelt couldn’t keep pace. His bogey-bogey-bogey finish allowed Woods to win by two strokes.
With his final round 69, Woods finished 8-under par for the tournament, became the first player this year to win three events on the PGA Tour and captured his 74th title, surpassing the 73 of Jack Nicklaus. Only Sam Snead (82) has more PGA Tour wins.
“It feels great to get to 74 wins and obviously pass Jack,” Woods said. “I did it at 36 years old, and it’s something I’m very proud of.”
Woods’ victory came on a fast, firm course full of gnarly rough and in a tournament that had a trying week. The obstacles included excessive heat and a violent thunderstorm that tore through Congressional on Friday night, forcing officials to bar fans from Saturday’s third round. A single-day tournament record crowd of 48,611 watched Woods win Sunday.
“It felt like it was a lot of pent-up energy,” Woods said. “Everyone wanted to come out and scream and yell.”
Woods did it Sunday with a strong round of ball-striking and cautious putting, plus a spectacular rescue shot after his tee ball on the 12th hole plunked a local sportscaster in the back and bounded under a tree. Unable to take a full swing, Woods nonetheless hit a hooking 165-yard shot that finished 20 feet from the hole. As he followed through, his club made contact with the tree but remained in one piece.
“I had warned the gallery that be careful: This club might snap because obviously I’m hooking it, so I’ve got to throw it,” Woods said. “It came off great, and somehow the 9-iron didn’t bend. I’m kind of surprised.”
Woods finally separated himself from Van Pelt on No. 17, where he got up and down for a par from in front of the green. Van Pelt, who has one PGA Tour win and 44 top-10s, caught a flyer from the rough, which went over the green and left him with a difficult flop shot that led to a bogey.
On the 18th hole, Woods striped a huge drive 345 yards, then hit his approach to within 17 feet. Van Pelt’s approach left him with a difficult chip across the green that raced past the hole. Woods two-putted for the victory.
With wins in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial and AT&T National, this year is looking like 2009 for Woods, who ended that season with six victories but no majors.
“I had a good year that year,” Woods said. “That would be nice if I could get that same total with a couple majors in there.”
