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Golf Capsules: Tiger Woods wins Buick Open by 3 strokes
Comments 0 | Recommend 0GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Tiger Woods won the Buick Open for a third time and claimed his 69th PGA Tour victory.
Ho hum.
Not quite.
Woods shot a 3-under 69 and coasted to a three-shot victory with a 20-under 268 total at Warwick Hills, which hosted its first Buick Open in 1958 and seemed to stage its final one Sunday.
"I've played all around the world, and I've never seen a day like this," said Woods, also the 2002 and 2006 winner at Warwick Hills. "This event has always been special, but today was something else."
He acknowledged thinking about his walk up 18 at Warwick Hills being his last, leading to him throwing his ball with a lot of velocity back down the fairway to fans. He also tossed a ball into the gallery at 17.
"I never do that, but today was different," Woods said. "We aren't coming back here, and I wanted to thank all these people."
GolfWeek Magazine reported on its Web site that General Motors Co. would end the PGA Tour's longest partnership, and The Associated Press confirmed it with a person briefed on the decision. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the announcement wouldn't be made until after the tournament.
GolfWeek also reported The Greenbrier in West Virginia is waiting for the PGA Tour to confirm it will replace the Buick Open in 2010.
Susan Docherty, general manager for GM's Buick and GMC brands, said she is giving Buick-GMC's national promotions manager Larry Peck 90 days to figure out the company's future with the sport.
"There's been a long history between Buick and golf and there definitely will be a connection going forward," Docherty said. "What we need to do and stop and evaluate what we want to do going forward."
Spending about $7 million on a golf tournament in Michigan might not be part of the plans.
"Hopefully, we'll get back to this region soon," Woods said.
Early and often at Warwick Hills, from the pro-am when he played with rocker Bob Seger through Sunday, Woods was thanked by fans who appreciated his appearance.
"I've never played in front of fans like this," Woods said.
And, they haven't seen a player quite like Woods.
He improved to 36-1 when he has the outright lead after 54 holes. Woods has four wins this season — twice as many as anyone else on the PGA Tour — in just 11 starts since returning from knee surgery.
Roland Thatcher (64), Greg Chalmers (68) and John Senden (70) tied for second.
"I might go take a picture of the scoreboard since I'm tied with Tiger, but I'm not going to worry about getting ready for a playoff," Thatcher said when he ended his round soon after Woods was starting his. "I'm sure he's going to make my day a moot point."
Indeed he did.
Woods broke the tie with Thatcher with a 21-footer at No. 4, then two-putted from 43 feet to birdie the par-5 seventh. After saving par from the trees on 10 and water on 13, he picked up his final birdie with a two-putt on the par-5 16th.
He moved into first place in the FedEx Cup standings and padded his lead on the money list with another $918,000 after tying Vijay Singh's record of three Buick Open titles.
With the 69 wins, he trails just Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82).
Woods reached victory No. 69 at the age 33 years, 7 seven months — almost seven years quicker than Nicklaus and eight years sooner than Snead.
Dating to the 2006 British Open, Woods has won 21 of 39 starts on the PGA Tour.
Woods, playing for the first time since missing the cut at the British Open, got off to a brutal start at the Buick Open.
He shot a 71 in the first round and said it was probably the worst putting performance of his career, leading to him skipping his post-round practice session because he was so mad.
It only added to his legacy because he went from a tie for 95th to a victory, the largest jump he's made from the first round in a tournament he ended up winning.
Woods roared back into contention with the best five-hole start of his career — beginning 6 under in the second round — en route to a 9-under 63 for his best score in relation to par in four years.
He hit the ball relatively poor in the third round, but made enough clutch shots to finish with a 65 and take a one-shot lead into Sunday.
The three-shot victory was his most lopsided since winning the 2008 Buick Invitational by eight.
He took advantage of the easy course and weak field as expected. The six players who finished within five shots of Woods have a combined four titles.
"He's just laughing at all of us," Letzig said. "I wish he'd stop coming to the tournaments I'm coming to. Seriously, though, I love it."
Woods, whose previous three wins this year were each by one shot, spent much of Sunday with a two-shot cushion before he took a three-stroke lead with the birdie at No. 16.
His businesslike final round included three birdies and no bogeys and won without trailing in the final round for the first time since Bay Hill in 2008.
Competition and courses are about to get much tougher.
Woods will play at the Bridgestone Invitational next before going to Hazeltine for the PGA Championship, his final chance to win a major this year.
He is set to compete in two straight tournaments going into a major for the first time in his career.
"I feel good," Woods said. "The win helps."
Champions
Fred Funk rolls to U.S. Senior Open title
CARMEL, Ind. — Fred Funk took a back-nine victory lap in the U.S. Senior Open.
Funk won by six strokes and broke the tournament record with a 20-under total. He shot a 7-under 65 on Sunday at Crooked Stick.
"It's something I really didn't fathom happening, but the biggest thing is just getting my name on that trophy," the 53-year-old Funk said.
Coming off a playoff loss to Loren Roberts last week in the Senior British Open, Funk broke the event mark of 17 under set by Hale Irwin in 2000 at Saucon Valley.
Funk, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, won his second senior major, following the 2008 JELD-WEN Tradition. He has five Champions Tour victories.
Funk was 13 under the first three days to take the lead. He birdied Nos. 2, 5 and 9 on Sunday for a 33 on the front nine and was on his way to routing the field.
The crowd knew what was happening, but Funk didn't check the scoreboard until he got to the 17th green.
"I had a feeling I had a little bit of a lead," he said.
Once he figured out where he stood, he simply had fun.
"It was a big relief to kind of freewheel it on 18," he said.
Joey Sindelar (70) finished second at 14 under, Russ Cochran (68) was 12 under, and Roberts (64) and Greg Norman (73) followed at 11 under.
Funk felt he could have won the previous week if he hadn't tried so hard to steer the ball. A week later, he let it rip with record-breaking results.
"Unless you win, you can always look back and find shots in four days that you wish you had back," he said. "And I didn't want to look back this week and say would have, should have, could have."
The swing always has been a key part of Funk's game.
"He hits as straight as any man on the planet," said Roberts, who matched the course record with his 64. "That's what you've got to do at an Open Championship because the rough is so tough. When he does that and gets the putter going — you see what he is doing — going lights out."
Sindelar said he knew he wasn't going to catch Funk. He entered Sunday thinking he could compete if he played the longer holes better, but it didn't matter.
"I played the par 5s better, and I didn't shank, and Fred still whooped me bad," Sindelar said. "It was awesome."
Sindelar said he wished the final day had been more competitive, but he said Funk is tough once he gets ahead. In the five events Funk has led on the Champions Tour heading into the final round, he has won four.
Norman started the day one stroke behind Funk, but never threatened. His tee shot hit a tree and went into the water on No. 6 and he double bogeyed. On the next hole, he shot out of a bunker and landed on the green, but he two-putted and bogeyed.
Funk saw Norman's confidence slipping on No. 6.
"He just didn't have control of the golf ball like he did yesterday," Funk said. "He didn't drive or putt as good, and got himself in a little trouble. A couple of his good shots didn't turn out good, and I think it started eating at him a little bit."
Tom Watson, the runner-up at the British Open, shot even on Sunday to finish at 2 over, tied for 43rd.
Last year's winner, Eduardo Romero, shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to tied for 19th at 3 under.
The course record was altered three times during the week. Norman, Sindelar, Dan Forsman and amateur Tim Jackson all tied for mark Thursday with 66s.
That record was bettered Saturday when Cochran had a 64. Roberts then tied Cochran's mark.
Jackson, who led after the first two days, shot a 4-over 76 on Sunday to tie for 11th. His 72-hole score of 282 was the lowest by an amateur in U.S. Senior Open history, shattering the record of 288 set by Greg Reynolds and George Zahringer in 2005. Jackson also shot the lowest round for an amateur in a U.S. Senior Open, a 66 on Thursday.
Jackson's score of 133 over the first two days matched the tourney's best 36-hole mark.
"This was a great experience and a great week," the 50-year-old said. "Even as old as I am, I learned a lot."
-- Cliff Brunt
Notebook: Norman suffers through another Sunday fall
CARMEL, Ind. — What happened to Greg Norman this time?
In another Sunday fall, he started the day at 12 under — one stroke behind leader Fred Funk — but ended up with a 1-over 73 and tied with Loren Roberts for fourth place.
"Nothing was going my way," Norman said. "I was out of energy and the momentum — not physically out of energy — but the momentum wasn't on my side and things weren't happening for me. No matter what I did, (it) always seemed like it was the wrong thing instead of the right thing, and I just couldn't turn the corner on it."
His demise started on the par-3 sixth, where he hit into the water to the right of the green and made a double bogey. He followed that with a bogey on the next hole after he hit into a bunker guarding the front of the green.
Norman was in the bunkers a lot on the front nine. On the par-5 fifth, his drive landed in a bunker off the right side of the fairway. His second shot caught sand on the left side, and his approach fell into the grass of a bunker in front of the green. But he saved par with a one-putt.
Still, he said his round "just wasn't good."
During an interview session, he was asked to briefly review his round.
"I don't really want to review my round, no," he said.
HARD CHARGER
Senior British Open winner Loren Roberts mounted a strong charge Sunday by tying the single-day U.S Senior Open record of 8-under 64, set a day earlier by Russ Cochran.
Roberts started the day tied for 15th but shot up the leaderboard quickly after a birdie on the first hole and an eagle on the par-4 second. He rose as high as third at 12 under before tying for fourth with Greg Norman at 11 under.
Roberts had a 10-stroke swing from Saturday, when he shot a 74.
He said his strong day started on the practice range.
"I just felt good this morning," he said. "I got in a good rhythm on the range, and obviously I got off to a great start.
"I was lucky I didn't get in the way of myself today and just kept going."
But no one was a match for winner Fred Funk, who continued to pile onto his lead throughout his round.
"So I was pretty much trying for second or third, to be honest with you," he told reporters.
NO REGRETS
Low amateur Tim Jackson was the feel-good story of the week, although it didn't have a magical ending.
Jackson, a real estate developer of Germantown, Tenn., set a U.S. Senior Open tournament record for amateurs Thursday with a 66, which also was a Crooked Stick course record that he shared with three others that day. On Saturday, Russ Cochran broke the course record with a 64, and Loren Roberts matched it Sunday.
Jackson was the leader after Friday's round at 11 under, and his two-day total of 133 matched the tournament's lowest 36-hole score, set by Dave Stockton and Simon Hobday in the 1990s.
But Jackson dropped to fourth place on Saturday with a 1-over 73 and followed it with a final-round 76, good for an 11th-place tie at 6 under.
Jackson, who felt nervous during Saturday's round as the leader, said he got a good night's rest that night and "was ready to go" Sunday morning. But he said pressed himself too hard, trying to force some shots and missing a couple of short putts.
"I think it just got to me," he said. "It was just kind of a hanging-on, surviving-type day. But it was still fun."
ALWAYS WITH HIM
Tom Watson finished 2 over for the tournament, tied for 43rd place. But that's not what will follow him forever.
During the week, he frequently was asked to reflect on the British Open, which he nearly won three weeks ago except for a badly missed putt on the final hole, leading to a playoff loss to Stewart Cink. He was asked about it again after his round on Sunday.
"It's a bittersweet memory," he said. "It will always be with me."
-- Keith Robinson
LPGA
Scotland's Matthew wins Women's British Open
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Catriona Matthew won the Women's British Open by three strokes Sunday, capturing her first major title just 10 weeks after giving birth to her second child.
The 39-year-old Scot birdied three straight holes on the back nine to hold her third-round lead. She finished at 1-over 71 for a 3-under 285 total.
"I'm speechless," Matthew said. "To be honest, I didn't play that well today but I holed good putts at the 13th and 14th, which I needed. I never imagined coming back — after not playing — that I could win. It hasn't sunk in yet."
Karrie Webb of Australia closed with a 68 and was second at 288. Sharing third at 289 were Paula Creamer (71), Hee-Won Han (70), Ai Miyazato (73) and Christina Kim (74).
Defending champion Jiyai Shin never threatened in the final round, and a double bogey at the last hole left her with a 75 and a share of eighth place.
Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie had their best rounds of the week with 69s. Kerr shared eighth place and Wie tied for 11th.
Matthew birdied from 18 feet at 13 and from 40 feet at the next. She also made a birdie at the long 15th.
"When I made that putt on 14, I felt it was mine for the taking," she said. "I felt I'd never have a better chance and I'd better take it. Then once I hit the good tee shot at the 18th, I felt that even I could do it from there."
Creamer dropped two shots on the 18th after driving into a grassy bunker and then sending her third shot past the green and up against the clubhouse.
"Disappointing is probably the best word," she said. "I gave it a chance. I played really well. Unfortunate luck on the last hole, but I did hit it there so I can't complain too much.
"It's all about pride. I wanted to finish as good as I could finish and as close as I could to the top. I wanted to prove to myself I can play a good round on Sunday and I did in a sense.
Wie sufficiently impressed U.S. Solheim Cup captain Beth Daniel to make the team as a wild card. The competition against Europe will be held outside Chicago in three weeks.
Daniel also picked Juli Inkster, who will make her eighth Solheim Cup appearance. Matthew made Europe's team after her victory.
Wie, Inkster on U.S. Solheim Cup team
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Michelle Wie was selected as a wild card to make her Solheim Cup debut for the United States on Sunday, and Catriona Matthew made Europe's team after capturing the Women's British Open.
American captain Beth Daniel also picked Juli Inkster, who will make her eighth Solheim Cup appearance and at 49 will become the oldest player to compete in the matches.
Wie and Inkster did not earn enough points to get a top-10 place for the Aug. 21-23 series at Sugar Grove, Ill.
"I am so honored, so thrilled," Wie said. "I am so excited to be wearing this jacket and this hat and to be representing my country is such a thrill for me. I am so honored that Beth picked me and I will do my best not to let her down."
Wie and Inkster will team with Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel, Kristy McPherson, Christina Kim, Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis.
"I've been nudging her," Wie said. "I have been badgering her a bit. It was one of my biggest goals this year."
Matthew is joined on the Europe team by Gwladys Nocera (France), Tania Elosegui (Spain), Diana Luna (Italy), Laura Davies (England), Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Helen Alfredsson (Sweden), Maria Hjorth (Sweden), Becky Brewerton (Wales, wild card), Janice Moodie (Scotland, wild card) and Anna Nordqvist (Sweden, wild card).
Wie was told she made the team about two hours after her 69 at the Women's British Open gave her a share of 11th place.
"That was a lot longer than I wanted," said Wie, who moved up to 13th from 16th on the points list after the tournament.
The 19-year-old from Hawaii only became eligible for points when she became an LPGA Tour member this year, putting her at a disadvantage with the qualifying period beginning after the last Solheim Cup in 2007.
Daniel said Wie had earned her spot.
"She definitely deserved it," Daniel said. "She only had the opportunity to play less tournaments than everybody else and she still kept moving up in the points. She earned her way on to the team.
"I looked at pretty much every stat I could look at but I kind of had my 'What have they done recently?' factor. And that was a big determining factor for me because I've said all along I want the hottest players I could get coming into the event, and she is definitely one of the hottest players."
Inkster was pleased to be selected but would have preferred to have qualified directly.
"I was sorry I didn't play my way onto the team, but I'm happy that Beth and the team have confidence in me," she said.
Inkster will need only a half-point to set the U.S. record for most Solheim Cup points. She is tied with Meg Mallon at 16½.
PGA European
Henningsson wins Moravia Silesia Open
CELADNA, Czech Republic — Sweden's Oskar Henningsson made six birdies Sunday to win the Moravia Silesia Open by two strokes, shooting 13-under 275 at the Prosper Golf Resort.
It was the 23-year old rookie's first European Tour victory since he turned pro in 2004. The $2.8-million tournament marked the return of the PGA European tour to the Czech Republic.
"It was a fantastic tournament and I dedicate the victory to may father who was here with me," Henningsson said.
The English duo of Sam Little and Steve Webster finished tied for second at 11-under 277.
Henningsson enjoyed a bogey-free round of 67 on Saturday and started three shots behind overnight leader Webster, but caught up with four birdies on the front nine. Two more birdies on the back nine secured the victory.
Webster endured a disastrous front nine that included three bogeys. A flurry of three birdies in the later stages of the back nine brought him back into contention with Little, who had four birdies and two bogeys in his final round.
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, who helped design the 7,155-yard course, finished tied for 17th with four other players after finishing at 4 under.
Bernhard Langer won the last event in the Czech Republic at the Karlstejn Golf Club course near Prague 12 years ago.
Elsewhere
Ryder Cup captain Azinger to play Reno-Tahoe Open
RENO, Nev. — Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has agreed to play this week at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open along with Rocco Mediate, Ricky Barnes, Brian Davis, Charley Hoffman, Kevin Na, Rich Beem, Chris DiMarco, Scott McCarron and Steve Elkington, tourney officials said Sunday.
Azinger, one of five past winners of majors on the PGA Tour in the field, was a late addition to the group of 132 golfers who will tee off Thursday at Montreux Golf & Country Club on the edge of the Sierra Nevada while the top-ranked players compete in the World Golf Championship event at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
The field includes defending champion Parker McLachlin and each of the five past winners of the 11-year-old event with a $3 million purse — Steve Flesch, Will MacKenzie, Vaughn Taylor, Kirk Triplett and Chris Riley. Inaugural champ Notah Begay III also plans to play after helping out earlier in the week with the First Tee program for children.
Azinger, whose 12 career victories on tour include the 1993 PGA Championship, coached the U.S. team to victory over the Europeans last fall at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky.
In addition to Azinger, Elkington and Beem, past PGA champs Mark Brooks and Shaun Micheel are scheduled to play at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course that winds through towering pines and mountain streams about 15 miles from Lake Tahoe.
"I think this is probably one of the most competitive fields this community has ever seen," said Michael Stearns, director of the tournament.
"It's a great mix of veterans and some up and comers and some players who are graduating from the Nationwide Tour. There's some great names and there's also some guys who are playing great and can hit it a mile," he said Sunday.
Two entrants have won on the tour this year, Michael Bradley at the Puerto Rico Open and Mark Wilson at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. A dozen of the players have posted tour victories since 2007, including Jonathan Byrd, Joe Ogilvie, Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker, Greg Kraft, Johnson Wagner and Chez Reavie.
Michael Allen, who like Triplett played his college golf for the Nevada Wolf Pack, will try to become the first player to win on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour in the same season. Allen, 50, won the U.S. Senior Open earlier this year but has never won a PGA tour event.
Others in the Reno field include Jesper Parnevik, Bryce Molder, Kevin Stadler and Jason Gore. Of the 72 who were playing Sunday in the final round of the Buick Open outside of Detroit, 43 were committed to play at Reno.
-- Scott Sonner
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