Date: January 28, 2008
Author:

Woods cruises to victory

John Senden and Stuart Appleby have finished in a tie for eighth position at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, as world No. 1 Tiger Woods cruised to a nine shot victory. Woods claimed his 62nd career victory with a one-under par final round of 71 to finish the tournament in a league of his own at 19-under par. Japan&aposs Ryuji Imada shot the equal best round of the day a five-under par 67 to finish in outright second position at eleven-under. Stewart Cink, who began the final round in second place, shot a one-over par 73 and finished in a tie for third with Rory Sabbatini at nine-under. Cink and Woods were the only two golfers to enter the final round having carded three rounds in the 60s but neither could make it four. Senden carded an even-par final round 72 and Appleby finished with a 73 while Aaron Baddeley, who began the day in a tie for fourth, plummeted down the leaderboard with a four-over par 76 to finish back at three-under. Nathan Green carded a third consecutive even par round to finish at four-under par. Woods began the fourth round with an eight-shot lead but soon extended it to nine after a birdie at the first hole. That became 10 when he picked up another shot at he sixth before a bogey at the eighth saw the world No. 1 play the front nine in 35. Woods made three birdies on the back nine but also recorded three consecutive bogeys to finish with a round of 71, his first in the 70s since carding an opening round of 72 in the first week of September at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He had posted 19 consecutive rounds in the 60s. Final results from Buick International: -19: Tiger Woods 67 65 66 71 -11: Ryuji Imada 69 72 69 67 -9: Rory Sabbatini 67 75 70 67, Stewart Cink 68 69 69 73 -7: Justin Leonard 76 68 65 72 -6: Phil Mickelson 70 73 68 71, Joe Durant 70 70 67 75 -5: John Senden (Australia) 70 69 72 72, Fred Couples 71 69 71 72, Stuart Appleby (Australia) 67 72 71 73 Also: -4: Nathan Green (Australia) 68 72 72 72 -3: Steve Elkington (Australia) 71 71 69 74, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 71 67 71 76 -1: Matt Jones (Australia) 72 70 70 75 +1: Robert Allenby (Australia) 70 70 72 77 +2: Rod Pampling (Australia) 70 72 74 74 +5: Jason Day (Australia) 72 72 75 74