Not to take anything away from Brooks Koepka, and what was a terrific final round from the winner of the last 2 U.S. Opens, including this year's, but the electricity that was generated from Tiger Woods' push during his final round on Sunday was something that was truly special. The concentration. The flush iron shots. Putt after putt either rolling in or dangling on the very edge of the cup or just rimming out. Dialed in. It was the Tiger of Old on Sunday - and not just for stretches like in the final round of the Open last month at Carnoustie or his 3rd round on Saturday that had a ton of momentum going that seemed to just run out of steam around the 11th hole or so. This last tiring down the back 9, most likely a product of the fact that Woods had to play 29 holes of golf on Saturday, and like he pointed out after he wrapped up his long Saturday, it wasn't so much the physical wear and tear, but the mental grind of playing 29 championship holes in high heat and humidity.
None of it seemed to make a difference come Sunday for Woods as he delivered a terrific final round that seemed like we had went back in time some 12 years or so to the Tiger of old. Even with Woods missing every fairway on the front 9, he still somehow made the turn at -2 for his round. Then he started hitting fairways, starting right away on the 10th hole, and the Sunday rally was on. It was really his incredible shot from the rough on 9 that got things going for Woods on his final round.
After going well right and into the gallery and cart path on 9, Woods got relief from the cart path and lined up for what seemed like an impossible super-hook shot that would have to wrap around some large trees ahead to his left. Woods not only ripped the shot flush, it hooked spectacularly and had so much spin that it checked up nicely for a great look at birdie from what had been a seemingly impossible location. Nick Faldo wasn't over-exaggerating when he referred to it as a shot of a lifetime at one point. Tiger made it look easy, just like the old Tiger and the subsequent birdie gave him some momentum as he made the turn, chasing Koepka who put a little birdie run of his own together at 7, 8, and 9 to close out his front 9. The shot was truly incredible, and it was something that reminded us of the Woods from the early to mid 2000s.
After pars on 10 and 11, Woods started to get his back 9 going by sticking his approach on 12 to within 5 feet. He had to wait out a lengthy delay while the ground crew had to repair the lip of the cup, from a Gary Woodland-approach shot that had left the rim damaged. He sent the crowd into a frenzy after the repairs by stepping up and rolling in the subsequent birdie putt. Then it was another terrific iron on the par 3 13th, that was right at the pin and left him within 10 feet for a second consecutive birdie. Woods looked like the Woods of old once again as his concentration didn't waiver at all while he stared down the putt. Looking completely locked in, he stepped up and nailed the putt to move within 1 at -13; sending the crowd at Bellerive Country Club into a wild raucous roar.
The electricity seemed to build by the minute, as moments later Adam Scott made his birdie at the 12th to join Tiger at -13. Koepka's turn at a short birdie putt on 12 went left and the drama was on.
It only intensified when Woods lost his drive right on the 14th, but came up with a pretty good play with his second, all things considered, as he sat deep in the rough with an awful lie. He left himself off the green to the right, but in the short grass and out of the way of any sand traps. The subsequent pitch wasn't his best as it came up considerably short and left himself some work.
Meanwhile, Scott and Koepka both attacked the pin on 13, and Scott made his birdie while Koepka again wasn't able to convert. Tiger again was unfortunate on his par putt as he couldn't have hit a better one, even after it just rimmed out. The unlucky bogey dropped Woods 2 back of the now co-leaders Scott and Koepka.
You had the feeling that the 15th was going to be extra important for Woods and he bounced-back in a big way. After crushing a beautiful drive he absolutely stuck his approach like the Tiger of old as he went pin-hunting and left himself a tap-in birdie to get right back to -13. He kept the momentum going on the 16th, a brute of a par 3, with another terrific shot right at the middle of the green. It wasn't a pin-seeker but he again gave himself a chance. It was a heck of a 4-iron into the green, and another birdie opportunity awaited from 20 feet. The putt drifted off slightly to the left as he just hit it a touch soft.
The tee shot at 17 went right badly for Tiger, however, and sent a manhunt into the hazard to see where it ended up. He desperately needed to avoid the creek and while he did, he was still left with a mess to clean up right as Scott missed his birdie chance on 15. Koepka did not miss his short opportunity this time, and regained the lead by himself at -15.
As Koepka was heating up, Woods took his medicine and was able to just hack out his 2nd from a plugged lie within the hazard. He at least gave himself a chance to reach the green and have a birdie putt on the par 5. Koepka meanwhile, hit a terrific tee shot to within 6 feet or so on 16. It appeared that the former Florida State standout wasn't about to be caught as he seemed to answer the bell time and time again as he came down the back 9.
Tiger's approach on the 17th went into the green-side bunker however, and now it was going to take something truly epic for Woods to capture his 15th major, especially with the way Koepka was turning it on. His birdie putt from just within 7 feet on 16 was right in the middle of the cup and pushed him to -16 and seemingly wrapped up the tournament with just 2 holes to play.
Tiger went for the pin out of the sand, but it just didn't grab at all when it landed on the green and trickled away. It was a good effort, but not quite enough magic to keep Woods in the front of the race with Koepka. Woods' putt on 17 to save par from about 9 feet once again dropped though and just when it seemed he was about to be knocked out, pulled himself up for one last push on 18.
He striped his drive on 18 and put himself in great position for his approach. Moments later Koepka ripped the drive of the tournament on the par 5 17th. 336 yards later, and he left himself a mouth-watering second. Meanwhile, Adam Scott's drive hooked left and into the thick rough.
Woods hit a terrific approach to 18, but he didn't get the hole-out that he realistically needed to have any chance. Koepka unloaded his approach to 17 and left himself with a pretty easy 40 yard pitch to put the tournament away. Tiger stepped up and made his birdie putt on 18 to finish off a final round 64 to finish at -14. It was an incredible final round for Woods, who couldn't manage a single fairway on the front 9 but yet still managed 8 birdies total on the day.
Koepka left the door open a tad after he missed his short birdie putt at 17. Scott stepped up for his birdie to get within 1 but didn't hit it hard enough. Koepka just had to manage a par on 18 and the tournament was his. He did just that as he finished off the victory with a laser of a drive on 18, and he was able to enjoy a Sunday stroll up the 18th fairway toward his awaiting approach shot after Scott went well left with his tee shot.
In the end, Koepka set the clubhouse record at -16 for the tournament and finished with a final round 66. It was a terrific tournament for Koepka who captured his second major of the year (U.S. Open) and 3rd overall. He held off Tiger who ended up in 2nd by himself, two back at -14. It was a delightful Sunday treat to see Woods make a furious Sunday rally and to see Koepka answer the call time and again.
The electricity that was generated by the outstanding play from Tiger - his focus, determination, an absolute spot-on display from his irons , and putting was something that all of us - Tiger included - weren't sure if we would ever get to witness again. One thing is for certain coming out of this terrific Sunday of golf - that after being in contention on Sunday in the final two majors of the year, dare we say Tiger is finally back?
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