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Monday 15 april 2019
Tiger Woods makes Masters 15th and most improbable major
Continued from Page 18 ons Dinner. At that time, he I hope it’s something they’ll
thought his career is over. never forget.”
“Last year I was lucky to be Now the comeback is truly Woods won his 15th major,
playing again. At the pre- complete. three short of the standard
vious year’s dinner, I was He wrapped his arms set by Jack Nicklaus. It was
really struggling. I missed a around his father when he his 81st victory on the PGA
couple of years not play- won his first green jacket in Tour, one title away from
ing this great tournament. 1997, changing the world the career record held by
To now be the champion ... of golf. Sam Snead. “A big ‘well
22 years between wins is a “Now I’m the dad with two done’ from me to Tiger,”
long time. It’s unreal to ex- kids there,” he said. Nicklaus tweeted. “I am
perience this.” He wanted his children to so happy for him and for
Woods lost his impeccable see him win, once saying the game of golf. This is just
image to a sex scandal, they saw him only as a You- fantastic!!!”
one of the swiftest and Tube legend. They were at It was the first time Woods
most shocking downfalls in the British Open when he won a major when trailing
sport. had the lead briefly. They going into the final round,
He lost his health to four couldn’t make it to East and he needed some help
back surgeries that left him Lake last September, when from Francesco Molinari,
unable to get out of bed, he won the Tour Champi- the 54-hole leader who still
much less swing a club, and onship for his first victory in was up two shots head-
he went two years without five years. ing into the heart of Amen
even playing a major. It “I wasn’t going to let that Corner.
was two years ago at the Tiger Woods wears his green jacket holding the winning trophy happen to them twice,” he And that’s when all hell
Masters when Woods said after the final round for the Masters golf tournament Sunday, said. “To let them see what broke loose at Augusta.
he needed a nerve block April 14, 2019, in Augusta, Ga. it’s like to have their dad Molinari’s tee shot on the
just to walk to the Champi- Associated Press win a major championship, par-3 12th never had a
chance, hitting the bank
and tumbling into Rae’s
Creek for double bogey.
Until then, Molinari had
never trailed in a round
that began early in three-
somes to finish ahead of
storms. And then it seemed
as though practically ev-
eryone had a chance.
Six players had a share of
the lead at some point on
the back. With the final
group still in the 15th fair-
way, there was a five-way
tie for the lead. And that’s
when Woods seized con-
trol, again with plenty of
help.
Molinari’s third shot clipped
a tree and plopped
straight down in the water
for another double bogey.
Woods hit onto the green,
setting up a two-putt birdie
for his first lead of the final
round.
The knockout punch was
a tee shot into the 16th
that rode the slope just by
the cup and settled 2 feet
away for birdie and a two-
shot lead with two holes to
play. Brooks Koepka, one
of four players from the
final two groups who hit
into the water on No. 12,
rallied with an eagle on
the 13th, narrowly missed
another eagle on the 15th
and was the last player
with a chance. His birdie
putt on the 18th from just
outside 10 feet never had
a chance, and he had to
settle for a 70. q
