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AUGUSTA,
Georgia—So
Tiger Woods is still stuck on 13 major championships and
looking forward to the chance to get another one in June
at the US Open at Torrey Pines, where he will once again
be reminded he’s chasing Jack Nicklaus’s record 18
majors.
Here’s
another reminder, one that he doesn’t like to hear:
Woods is edging closer to Nicklaus in another
category—finishing second in majors.
While
Trevor Immelman hung on by his fingernails to win his
first major in Sunday’s final round of the Masters,
Woods was fairly sure Immelman wasn’t going to cough up
a three-shot lead in the last two holes, so he retreated
to the clubhouse at Augusta National Golf Club to grab a
bite to eat.
Woods
had some time Monday to chew on this one, his second
straight runner-up finish at the Masters. He has been
second five times in majors, including three times in
the last five and four in the last 12.
That’s
not close to Nicklaus’s record of 19 second-place
finishes in majors, but Woods is creeping closer, and
he’s not that pleased about it, either.
Second
place means you’re the first loser, as Woods often
ruefully acknowledges.
With his
Grand-Slam thoughts slammed now, Woods joked Sunday
after his round that he wasn’t going to say anything
more about that kind of goal and blamed the media, while
fully aware he was the one who raised the possibility in
the first place.
Woods
said that visions of a Grand Slam never visit him while
he’s busy playing.
“It’s
just one of those things when you’re out there playing,
you couldn’t care less,” he said. “You’re just trying to
win a golf tournament. You’re trying to put yourself in
position, which I did. I just didn’t make the putts I
needed to make this entire week.”
Chief
beneficiary of all those missed putts—Woods had only 11
birdies in 72 holes—was Immelman, who is wearing his
first green jacket because of it.
He is
also the Masters champion because he had only five
bogeys all week, led the field in fairways hit and tied
for second in greens in regulation. Plus, Immelman had
only two three-putts.
Immelman
said he felt fortunate to win a major playing in the
midst of the Woods era.
“You
know, the guy boggles my mind,” Immelman said. “I’m an
avid sports watcher, I’m an avid sports fan and I study
top sportsmen, and this guy is frightening in what he
gets done and how he gets it done and the ease in which
he gets it done.
“To win
13 majors at an age of 32 is just frightening. To win a
major while he’s playing, and he’s playing at his
peak—he’s told us he’s playing at his peak—it’s a hell
of an achievement.
“I’m not
sure if I’ll ever get it done again, but I’ll be trying
my best.”
For
Immelman, his victory under extremely trying
conditions—swirling winds and rock-hard greens—naturally
moves the 28-year-old South African into a more
prominent role in the professional golf scene.
He
vaulted 14 places in the world rankings, from 29th to
15th.
Immelman
also attracted the attention of oddsmakers, who ignored
him at Augusta National. He’s listed at 40-1 to win the
US Open, tied for the 10th-best odds with Luke Donald,
K.J. Choi, Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink.
Woods is
the favorite, according to golfodds.com, at 5-4; Phil
Mickelson is second at 10-1. Woods figures to play three
more times before the US Open—the Wachovia the last
weekend of April, the Players a week later and the
Memorial the last weekend in May.
The
108th US Open begins on June 12 at Torrey Pines, where
Woods has won the Buick Invitational event four straight
times and five times in the last six years.
There
will be much discussion about the 7,643 yards that
Torrey will play for the Open, at par 71, instead of 72,
as it is played for the PGA Tour event in January. The
last time the Open was played on a par-71 course was in
2000 at Pebble Beach.
The 13th
hole at Torrey Pines has a tee area that would allow it
to be played at 614 yards, if the USGA decides to set it
up that way.
It’s the
longest course in US Open history.
When
June comes around, the only player with a chance to win
the Grand Slam this year will be Immelman, who has
actually thought about it.
“It’s
probably too early to think about that,” he said. “You
know, I’ve always dreamed about winning majors, and deep
down, I always thought I was good enough, but at times,
you obviously doubt yourself because you miss a few cuts
and you screw up a few times and you’re just like, ‘Man,
maybe I’m not as good, or good enough.’
“But
this is a tremendous confidence boost.”
And for
Woods, another second-place finish. |
