Sunday, July 23, 2006

Tiger's highly emotional 3rd British Open victory

The last time someone won back-to-back British Open wins, it was Tom Watson in 1982-83. Tiger Woods became the most recent consecutive winner with this, his 11th major golf victory.

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Woods is comforted by caddy Steve Williams after breaking down in tears after sealing a two-shot victory at Hoylake.

For the eleventh time, Woods went into the final day of a tournament with the lead and held on for the win.

From BBC.co.uk
He is now tied with Walter Hagen in second place in the major-winners stakes, seven behind Jack Nicklaus' haul of 18.

The Golden Bear's record was once considered insurmountable but Woods has won 11 majors at two years younger than Nicklaus was when he claimed his 11th, the 1972 US Open.


Woods' score of was two ahead of fellow American Chris DiMarco and five ahead of South African Ernie Els.

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David Duval chips out of a bunker on the 18th hole as he finishes on one over for the championship.

Without a doubt, security should have been better. Protesters threw exploding balls on the 18th green, that left purple paint. Time andtime again, we saw Woods stop his backswing to scrowl about the fans with the camera phones who were clicking away by the hundreds.

You know you are watching a British Open when you see more dead grass than greenery on the course. This is in very stark contrast to the carpet green lushness of most PGA tournament courses we see in the US.

Several players were disappointed with their putting, most notably Sergio Garcia, who probably wears the tag of the best current golfer to not win a major tournament at the age of 26. Tiger Woods is 30 and won his first majorm the 1997 Masters, at the age of 21.

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