The Tour Championship
UPDATE
HE. DID. IT.
After five years of comebacks, then false starts, and operation after operation, Tiger Woods is once again a winner on the PGA Tour. Woods held off an impressive limited field of 29 other players in Atlanta to capture the FedEx Cup Playoff finale, the Tour Championship. It is the 80th PGA Tour win for Woods.
The scene following his win was absolutely epic. The crowd in Atlanta started with a "USA" chant (in anticipation of next week's Ryder Cup) which parlayed into a "Tiger Tiger" chant. As Woods walked off the 18th green, he was embraced by playing partner Rory McIlroy along with his caddie Joe Lacava. He bumped fists with on-course reporter Roger Maltbie before receiving a hug and kiss from his new girlfriend and a bear hug from his longtime agent. Waiting for him at the scorer's tent were Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, Byrson DeChambeau, and Fed Ex Cup champion Justin Rose.
This will be the last time that the winner of the Tour Championship receives more attention than the winner of the FedEx Cup (per the new rules, the winner of the Tour Championship will be the winner of the FedEx Cup). While Justin Rose had an incredible season with 2 wins and consistent play that earned him the season long race for the $10,000,000, the story is going to be Woods. Woods doesn't just move the needle - he is the needle of both golf and American sports. To think that just last year we were unsure if we would ever see Woods play on Tour again, he is back as a champion. He will undoubtedly be a favorite heading into next year's signature springtime events including the Players, The Masters, and the PGA Championship. He has proven that he has not forgotten how to win and that he still has the game to compete with and beat the best players on the best tour in the world.
In the past, lots of the new tour stars have talked about how they always wished they could compete against Tiger Woods when he is at his best. They might want to be careful what they wish for - it looks like might just get it.
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The day that Tiger Woods fans have been waiting for is nearly here. Tiger's first win in 5 years is just 18 holes away. Just 29 players stand in his way of capturing the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
While the FedExCup finale is a limited field event of just 30 players, only a few realistically have a chance of catching Woods. With the Ryder Cup looming in just 5 days, it's ironic that both of those players are stars for the European Team: Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. Both sit just 3 shots back of Woods who has made a career of closing the door on 54-hole leads. Tiger has converted 95% of 54-hole leads going 42 for 44. While those wins came during the "Tiger Era," Woods has been in absolute control of his game all week. It would be fitting to see Woods cap off his return season with a win after trending upward all year long.
Woods and McIlroy tee off at 2:05PM EST. It will take a bad round by Rose and a win by Woods for Tiger to capture the FedEx Cup for a third time in his storied career. If Woods holds on and Rose finishes 2nd through 4th, then Rose will win the FedEx Cup. In all likelihood, it would be the first time that the winner of the Tour Championship is more celebrated and discussed than the winner of the FedEx Cup. That's the Tiger factor. He doesn't just move the needle - he is the needle.
HE. DID. IT.
The scene following his win was absolutely epic. The crowd in Atlanta started with a "USA" chant (in anticipation of next week's Ryder Cup) which parlayed into a "Tiger Tiger" chant. As Woods walked off the 18th green, he was embraced by playing partner Rory McIlroy along with his caddie Joe Lacava. He bumped fists with on-course reporter Roger Maltbie before receiving a hug and kiss from his new girlfriend and a bear hug from his longtime agent. Waiting for him at the scorer's tent were Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, Byrson DeChambeau, and Fed Ex Cup champion Justin Rose.
This will be the last time that the winner of the Tour Championship receives more attention than the winner of the FedEx Cup (per the new rules, the winner of the Tour Championship will be the winner of the FedEx Cup). While Justin Rose had an incredible season with 2 wins and consistent play that earned him the season long race for the $10,000,000, the story is going to be Woods. Woods doesn't just move the needle - he is the needle of both golf and American sports. To think that just last year we were unsure if we would ever see Woods play on Tour again, he is back as a champion. He will undoubtedly be a favorite heading into next year's signature springtime events including the Players, The Masters, and the PGA Championship. He has proven that he has not forgotten how to win and that he still has the game to compete with and beat the best players on the best tour in the world.
In the past, lots of the new tour stars have talked about how they always wished they could compete against Tiger Woods when he is at his best. They might want to be careful what they wish for - it looks like might just get it.
***********************************
The day that Tiger Woods fans have been waiting for is nearly here. Tiger's first win in 5 years is just 18 holes away. Just 29 players stand in his way of capturing the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
Woods and McIlroy tee off at 2:05PM EST. It will take a bad round by Rose and a win by Woods for Tiger to capture the FedEx Cup for a third time in his storied career. If Woods holds on and Rose finishes 2nd through 4th, then Rose will win the FedEx Cup. In all likelihood, it would be the first time that the winner of the Tour Championship is more celebrated and discussed than the winner of the FedEx Cup. That's the Tiger factor. He doesn't just move the needle - he is the needle.
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