Tiger Woods capped his record-shattering year with yet another title. Now, it's home for the holidays.
The list of Woods's accomplishments in 2000 reads like a Hall of Fame career. He wrapped it up Sunday by teaming with David Duval to win the EMC World Cup of Golf.
"This is my eighth tournament in a row, eight weeks in a row, and that's a lot. It's been all around the world and it's taken its toll,'' Woods said of his season-ending sojourn that included tournaments in (in order) Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Spain, Thailand, Hawaii, California, and Argentina. "I'm a little worn out, and I'm looking forward to enjoying Christmas and the holidays."
There shouldn't be much of a problem with Woods buying presents.
He and Duval split $1 million for their three-stroke victory over Argentina in the event that had 24 two-man teams competing in a better-ball formt for two rounds and an alternate-shot format for the other two rounds of the 72-hole event.
In 2000, the 24-year-old Woods won nine PGA Tour events, the most since Sam Snead
won 11 times in 1950, and earned a record $9,188,321 for his third money title in only his fourth full season on tour.
He also shattered Byron Nelson's record with a 68.17 scoring average, and
won the tour's Byron Nelson Award with an adjusted scoring average of 67.79.
Woods became only the fifth player, and the youngest, to complete the career Grand Slam when he won the British Open at St. Andrews. He also joined Ben Hogan as the only players to win three consecutive professional majors with his PGAplayoff victory over Bob May.
Asked how he will top one of the biggest years in the history of
golf, Woods said he hasn't even had time to think about it yet.
"As far as next year goes, I'm looking forward to hopefully improving and getting better, and hopefully I can put myself in contention to win some tournaments,'' he said.
Woods and Duval shot a final-round 68 Sunday at the par-72,
6,939-yard Buenos Aires Golf Club course and finished at 34-under
254.
Eduardo Romero and Angel Cabrera of Argentina pulled within one
stroke Sunday after an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole, but Woods and Duval
built their lead back up to three, highlighted by a huge putt made by Woods on the 146-yard 11th. After Duval's tee shot finished pin-high but 40 feet away, Woods's birdie putt seemed to take an eternity to roll slightly downhill before rattling in the cup.
Woods insisted that birdie was a rare putting bright spot in his
round.
"I thought we struck the ball well today but I didn't putt so
well,'' he said. "My partner over here bailed me out time and time
again and again. Thank goodness that he was there with a good
putter because I didn't hit good putts, I either ran wide or left
them short."
It was the 23rd title for the United States in 46 World Cups and
the second straight for Woods.
Last year, in Malaysia, he teamed with Mark O'Meara to beat
Spain by five strokes. Woods won the individual title last year by
nine strokes with a 21-under 263, both tournament records. This
year, the individual portion of the tournament was eliminated.
None of that mattered to Woods on Sunday.
"Right now, to be honest with you, I just want to get home,"
he said.
