Tiger Woods: Second All Time Comes With Win No. 74
At the AT&T National on Sunday, Tiger Woods reminded his fans and his critics that he is still a force to be reckon with on the golf course.
"I remember there was a time when people were saying I could never win again," Woods said. "Here we are.
"A lot of media people didn't think I could win again, and I had to deal with those questions for quite a bit. It was just a matter of time."
The 14-time major champion earned his 74th career PGA Tour victory, thus passing Jack Nicklaus for second on the all-time career list, only to trail Sam Snead's 82 wins.
"It feels fantastic. It feels great to get to 74 wins and obviously pass Jack," Woods said. "I've had a pretty good career and to do it at 36, I feel like I have a lot of years ahead of me. I feel like I've got a lot more ahead of me."
Woods won career number 74 after beating opponent, Bo Van Pelt, by two shots giving Woods his first three PGA Tour win of this season, three victories of his last seven starts. This is a good sign for Tiger, who since November 2009, has been on a 30-month winless drought.
Bo Van Pelt, fellow American and playing partner, finished alone in second, one shot ahead of Australian Adam Scott.
As other challengers faded, only Van Pelt was able to stay in touch with Woods but down the stretch, bogeys on the closing three holes brought his challenge to end. Both men traded birdies on the 15th and bogeys on the 16th, keeping them together eight-under par, but Van Pelt couldn't shift the tides of momentum to his advantage.
Van Pelt's final chance was to force a playoff on hole 18 but his effort rolled past the pin and he missed the par putt leaving Woods with a celebratory two-shot margin of victory.
As of now it's too early to say whether or not this is the Tiger Woods golf fans have known before the accident, sex scandals, and divorce. It's too early to say that his golf game is back to being perfect. But what can be said about Woods is that he's trying his best and he's improving.
Tiger is regaining his confidence and it'd be best if the golf world began to take notice.
