Date: June 08, 2009
Author: PA Sport and Sportal

Woods storms to 67th victory

Tiger Woods sunk a pair of closing birdies to clinch a stunning come-from-behind victory at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio. The world No.1 was in scintillating form throughout a final-round 65 at Muirfield Village Golf Club – a seven-under-par tally which left Woods at 12-under 276 overall. An eagle at the par-five 11th provided the highlight of a round which included three birdies – and a bogey at 16 – in the final four holes. That was enough to overcome a four-shot deficit on overnight leaders Matt Bettencourt and Mark Wilson – the American pair mustering, respectively, only 75 and 73. Geoff Ogilvy was the pick of the Australians finishing equal 10th at four-under while compatriots Mathew Goggin, Jason Day and Rod Pampling finished even in a share of 27th spot. Only two of the top nine players in Dublin, Ohio managed to break 70 as the ominous presence of Woods took its customary toll on his rivals. The other was Jim Furyk, who shot 69 to close the day as Woods&apos nearest challenger, a stroke back at 277. However, there was to be no denying Woods who took the title for a fourth time, and made it 67 on the PGA Tour overall. Meanwhile, Richard Green finished four shots adrift of little-known Jeppe Huldahl who ensured there was a third shock win in four weeks on the European Tour when he unexpectedly triumphed at the Celtic Manor Wales Open. Following the recent out-of-the-blue victories of Irish amateur Shane Lowry and world No.449 Christian Cevaer, the 26-year-old Dane, ranked 377th in the world, beat Swede Niclas Fasth by one – his first top-10 finish on the circuit in 45 attempts going back six years. “It feels amazing,” Huldahl said. “I couldn&apost feel my hands the last three holes. I knew I was doing well, but I didn&apost know how well until I asked my caddie on the 18th tee.” “He told me I needed a par – and it&aposs nice to have a par five and have a chance to lay up. But I couldn&apost put winning out of my head and it was quite emotional.” The 300,000-pound ($AU 602,700) first prize was almost 30 times Huldahl&aposs previous biggest cheque, but he won in real style on the course which in October next year will stage America&aposs defence of the Ryder Cup. Joint leader with England&aposs Nick Dougherty and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido with a round to play, the 2008 Challenge Tour graduate did not drop a stroke in shooting a four-under-par 67. He finished at nine-under-par for the tournament, with Fasth eight-under after a 66 and Garrido third a further shot back. Green ended up equal sixth on five-under. Dougherty, though, tumbled all the way to 37th with a nightmare 79, while New Zealander Mark Brown finished well down in a tie for 73rd at 15-over 299. PGA Tour, Final Round of The Memorial Tournament, Dublin, Ohio -12: Tiger Woods 69 74 68 65 -11: Jim Furyk 67 70 71 69 -8: Jonathan Byrd 69 68 71 72, Mark Wilson 68 70 69 73 -6: Matt Bettencourt 71 68 68 75, Matt Kuchar 73 67 71 71, Davis Love 72 68 69 73 -5: Stewart Cink 68 72 72 71, Ernie Els 70 70 71 72 -4: Will MacKenzie 70 73 73 68, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72 74 63 75, Mike Weir 69 69 75 71 -3: K.J. Choi 73 70 72 70 -2: Daniel Chopra 72 69 73 72, Chris DiMarco 73 67 73 73, Luke Donald 64 76 72 74, Dustin Johnson 73 68 72 73, Jerry Kelly 72 72 75 67, Ryuji Imada 70 69 74 73, Michael Letzig 72 70 69 75, Hunter Mahan 74 69 70 73, Nick Watney 73 71 74 68 Also: E: Matthew Goggin (Australia) 73 73 70 72 E: Jason Day (Australia) 67 73 75 73 E: Rod Pampling (Australia) 69 71 74 74 +3: Robert Allenby (Australia) 72 76 68 75 +6: John Senden (Australia) 71 74 74 75 +7: Marc Leishman (Australia) 74 74 70 77 +8: Nick O Hern (Australia) 73 73 76 74 +12: Stuart Appleby (Australia) 72 74 76 78