Tiger Woods chips the ball on the 12th hole during the final round of the Buick Open golf tournament in Grand Blanc, Michigan yesterday. Tiger went on to win his 50th career title. - Reuters
GRAND BLANC, Michigan (Reuters):
Tiger Woods withstood a back nine challenge from Jim Furyk to claim his 50th career title at the Buick Open yesterday.
Fresh off his triumph at the British Open, Woods made it back-to-back victories after carding his fourth consecutive round of six-under 66 at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. He finished three shots clear of Furyk with a total of 24-under 264.
With his fourth win of the season and second Buick title, Woods, 30, became the youngest golfer to own 50 career PGA Tour victories. He eclipsed Jack Nicklaus, who did not clinch 50 victories until he was 33 and six months.
"It's pretty cool to get to 50," Woods told reporters after achieving the mark in his 196th event. "I've been blessed and had a lot of things go my way."
Having captured 36-of-39 events when leading after three rounds, Woods' milestone win was not without drama. Furyk mounted a back nine challenge with birdies on five of six holes from the 10th on way to a bogey free eight-under 64.
Woods began the day with two shot cushion and maintained his advantage with a flawless front nine that included four birdies to open up a three-shot lead.
But three holes later the world number one's advantage had evaporated under Furyk's charge and his only bogey of the day at the par four 12th left both men on 21-under.
Woods, however, quickly recovered with a birdie at the 13th after a pinpoint approach left him a one foot tap in.
The 11 time major win followed up with another birdie on 15th to restore his two shot lead then survived a scare on the par three 17th when a spectator rolled an apple across the green as he attempted a long birdie putt.
With fans chanting "throw him out, throw him out", Woods would not be distracted stepping up to the ball and draining a nervy four-footer for par.
Woods then carried his focus onto the 18th, capping off his milestone win with a 10-foot birdie putt.
