Tiger Woods is still the best in the world, and his fifth victory of the year Sunday at the American Express Championship might be enough for his peers to vote him best on the PGA Tour again.
With three clutch pars on the grueling back nine at Capital City Club, Woods won his seventh World Golf Championship in 13 tries by closing with a 2-over 72 for a two-shot victory over Vijay Singh, Tim Herron and Stuart Appleby.
It was only the fourth time in 39 victories on the PGA Tour that Woods won despite failing to break par in the final round, and the first time since the 2002 US Open.
PHOTO: AFP
This was particular ugly, although Woods -- as usual -- did what was required.
The Crabapple course was a brute, with brick-hard greens and deep, wiry rough. Woods won at 6-under 274, the third-highest winning score this year behind the British Open (1-under 283) and the PGA Championship (4-under 276).
Woods had to win this week for a chance of winning the money title and PGA Tour player of the year for an unprecedented fifth straight time.
He earned US$1.05 million, putting him atop the money list by about US$170,000 over Singh.
Woods' five victories also leads the PGA Tour, and he has virtually locked up another scoring title. Still, much can happen with one month left in the season.
Woods was more elated over the 100th career victory for his caddie, Steve Williams, who has worked for Peter Thomson, Greg Norman and Raymond Floyd during his career.
"People have no idea how big this win was," Woods said. "It's not just the player of the year or the money title, it was Stevie's 100th win. He's meant a lot to a lot of the success I've had."
Woods is 30-2 when having at least a share of the 54-hole lead.
Woods has only two events left on his schedule -- Disney and the Tour Championship -- and might have to win one of those to claim the money title.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was