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Woods claims 4th straight
Grand Slam
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is turning into the Tiger Woods Invitational.
Woods won his fourth straight Grand Slam on Wednesday, finishing with a record
12-under 132 total for a three-stroke victory over David Toms.
Woods, the Masters champion, also matched the tournament record with a 7-under
65 in the final round on the Poipu Bay course. Toms, the PGA champion, shot a
67.
``I don't know what it is,'' Woods said about his dominance on the 7,053-yard
oceanside course. ``One thing, it's always great to come here because you've either
won a major or done really well.''
Woods earned $400,000 from the $1 million purse. Toms received $250,000. U.S.
Open champion Retief Goosen closed with a 71 to finish third at 137 and earn $200,000,
and British Open champion David Duval was last at 4-over 148 after a 72. He earned
$150,000.
Woods broke the tournament record of 11 under set by Ernie Els in 1997 and
also broke a tie with Greg Norman for the tournament victory record.
Woods said it was an honor to play in the two-day event for the winners of
the four major championships.
``I look forward to it. I get up for it,'' he said.
Woods jumped out early in the closing round, birdieing five of the first seven
holes. He made the turn at 4-under 32.
He started the day a stroke behind Goosen, but took the lead for good with
a 5-foot birdie putt on the 573-yard sixth after hitting a 320-yard drive and
a 252-yard approach with a 6-iron.
Woods also made a 30-foot birdie putt the fourth.
``I feel comfortable being here, but I didn't feel comfortable with my swing
yesterday,'' he said. ``I kind of slopped around and hung in there. But today
I hit some good shots and made some putts.''
He coasted in the final three holes when Goosen and Toms bogeyed the 16th,
giving him a three-stroke advantage with two holes to play. Woods birdied the
final two holes.
``He plays another level of golf that I can't,'' Toms said about Woods. ``I
can't play at that level because I don't have the power. When he's driving the
ball in the fairway, especially on the par 5s, it's an advantage.''
Goosen shot a 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Woods after the first round.
But four bogeys on the back nine in the final round hurt his chances of beating
Woods.
``I made a couple birdies coming in, but bogeys on 16 and 17, and the missed
short putt on 14 -- that really cost my chances of putting any pressure on Tiger,''
Goosen said.
Duval shot himself out of the tournament with a first-round 76.
``It was fun to watch. I tried to stay out of the way the best I could for
the chop, and it's been a good experience,'' he said.
``I'm really looking forward to the long Thanksgiving weekend and I'm glad
to be done working right now for a few days.''
Woods will join Norman, Colin Montgomerie and Jesper Parnevik in the Skins
Game this weekend in Indio, Calif.
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