Tiger cruises to five shot win

Even Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer couldn't match this.

Tiger Woods cruised to victory Sunday in the 100th Western Open. Woods, who already qualified for the 2004 Mercedes Championships, earned his 38th career victory on the PGA Tour and fourth of the season. It marks his fifth straight year with at least four victories, a feat no one else has managed.

And this is a guy who some say is in a slump?

Hogan, Palmer, Tom Watson and Lloyd Mangrum had four straight years with four or more victories.

And this is a guy who some say is in a slump? Blame it on the fact that he doesn't hold one of the four major championship titles for the first time in four years.

But he can change that when they go to Royal St. George's in two weeks for the Open.

"It's certainly a shot of confidence, no doubt about it," he said of going into the British Open with a victory. "Any time you win, you've got to feel pretty good about it. As I said, the things I've been working on are starting to come together.

"Hopefully they'll come together more so at the Open than they did this week."

The victory also made Woods the fifth three-time winner at the Western, the oldest stop on the PGA Tour. Hogan, Nicklaus and Palmer each won the Western twice.

The gaudy numbers don't stop there. Woods shot a 69 Sunday, giving him 21-under 267 for the tournament. That matches the tournament record set in 2001 by Scott Hoch.

Woods missed an 11-footer on the 18th that would have given him the record on his own. The crowd cheered when he putted out, but he still looked a little subdued.

Woods led the entire tournament, the first wire-to-wire winner at the Western since Nick Price in 1993. It's the fifth wire-to-wire victory in Woods' career.

He finished five strokes ahead of Rich Beem, the 13th time he's won by four strokes or better.

But give Beem credit, he at least added a small diversion to the inevitable. The winner of last year's PGA Championship opened the back nine with three birdies and an eagle in his first five holes to pull within five shots of Woods.

"I actually thought I had a glimmer of hope after the putt on 14" that got him within five, Beem said. "I got his attention. We went back to the locker room and he said, `Hey, slow down, man."'

Beem couldn't take advantage of his last par 5, though, ending whatever slim chances he might have had of catching Woods.

"Rich got it going on the back nine and made it interesting," Woods said. "I knew that if he birdied out, I would have to make some pars coming in in order to win the tournament. I was able to do that."

Jim Furyk, back in Chicago for the first time since winning the U.S. Open three weeks ago, finished seven shots behind Woods in a three-way tie for third. Mike Weir and defending champion Jerry Kelly also finished at 274.

But, really, what chance did anyone have of catching Woods? This victory was almost a gimme even before he teed off. Of the 31 tournaments he's led after 54 holes, he's won all but two of them. Plus with a six-stroke cushion to start, all he had to do was play it safe, and the victory - not to mention the $810,000 paycheck - was his.

He did better than that, though. The first 11 holes at Cog Hill's Dubsdread course are as birdie friendly as an aviary, and Woods took advantage. He had five birdies and only one bogey through 11, and needed just 13 putts.

Even with his closest rivals so far back they may as well have been on a different round, he didn't let up.

He was clearly irked when he pushed his drive left and into deep rough off the par-4 No. 7. He still had a clear shot at the green, though, and he made a beautiful recovery, putting the ball pin-high on the edge of the green, about 18 feet from the hole.

The ball curled around the edge of the cup and finally dropped in, drawing a fist pump from Woods and cheers from the crowd. He wore a wide grin as he turned around to acknowledge the crowd.

He added another birdie on the eighth hole. About 10 feet from the pin, he curved the ball up and around toward the hole. It looked as if it wouldn't break enough to drop, and Woods leaned forward on one leg, as if willing the ball to go in.

It did, getting him to 22 under. Another birdie on the 10th got him to 23 under, 10 strokes ahead of Beem and Robert Allenby, one of his playing partners.

Then the rain came. There were two delays totaling more than three hours, and interruptions seemed to disrupt Woods' rhythm.

He made pars on his first two holes, then struggled on the par-3 14th. With about six inches for par, his putt skirted the edge of the hole and he had to settle for bogey - his first since the fourth hole.

After the second delay, his 12-foot birdie putt on the 15th skidded along the hole but ran long, forcing him to settle for par. As the ball passed the hole, Woods' body sagged in disbelief.

Divots:

• Woods tops the $4 million mark in earnings this season with the victory. He's won $4,252,420.

• Woods also won the Western Open in 1997 and 1999.

• Furyk has 12 top-10 finishes before the Open, one shy of the record set by Lee Trevino and Tom Kite.

• As heavy rain came down during the second delay, a fan making his way off the course stopped and jumped in the big pond off the 18th green.

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