Senior Writer, Sports IllustratedPublished: June 14, 200
SAN DIEGO It was ten seconds that shook the Open. That's how long it took for an eagle putt by Tiger Woods to traverse the 75 feet or so from the back of the 13th green to the bottom of the cup. The eagle propelled Tiger back into red numbers players roosting there were an endangered species Saturday at Torrey Pines and announced what we already knew: Woods isn't giving up his dance with destiny without a fight to the last.
That roar was one that may live forever in Torrey Pines history, at least if Woods goes on to win the U.S. Open. Then again, it was nearly matched within the hour when Woods lofted a high pitch from left of the 17th green and watched it one-bounce into the cup for birdie. As another thunderous roar erupted from an electrified gallery, Woods grinned with his head down. It may yet prove to be a significant shot in historical terms but it was a fortunate accident and Woods acknowledged that. "You've gotta be kidding me," he said later. "I was thinking, don't make a 6, and I made a 3."
If that wasn't enough, there was the little matter of a 40-foot eagle putt on the last green, a stroke of genius that gave Woods the lead by himself heading into the final round. Another stunning turn, another raucous ovation, another Tiger miracle. If you don't believe in destiny after those three shots Saturday, you'd better reconsider. Though Rocco Mediate held the Open lead for most of the third round, Saturday ultimately belonged to Woods, who flat-out hijacked the tournament over the last six holes with two eagles and a birdie for a one-under-par 70.
As if his play wasn't dramatic enough, Woods added a human element to the drama, too. He struggled after that galvanizing eagle at the 13th hole, flinching on his surgically repaired left knee and flaring several tee shots down the stretch because of it. After a painful miss on the 17th tee, Woods hobbled in a small circle before limping down the fairway.
With each flinch and grimace from Woods, the Open ceased to be about Lee Westwood (who had just finished at two-under-par), or Mediate or Geoff Ogilvy or the disaster that was Phil Mickelson. It was about Woods battling his biggest opponent this week his left knee. There was no mistaking this for Ben Hogan coming back from the car accident or Ken Venturi wobbling through the heat at Congressional, but on the 18th tee Woods took extra time preparing to hit his tee shot, a shot he wasn't eager to play because he knew the swing was going to hurt. He willed himself to finish the swing and forget the pain, and he succeeded.
He went through a similar routine before his approach shot, a 5-wood from 227 yards. After his ball found the green, he winced at first and eventually doubled over in pain. After playing partner Robert Karlsson's long eagle putt hung on the lip and he tapped in for birdie, Woods made the stroke of highlight footage future. There were no histrionics this time, no trademark fist-pump and quick-walk, no shouted epitaphs, just Woods holding up a clenched fist with a tight-lipped grin. He had willed himself to a closing eagle and that much closer, maybe, to his third Open title.
After his round, Woods admitted the obvious: his knee is affecting his play. The problem is, he doesn't know when it's going to be a factor. It's not necessarily an issue every time he rips a drive or hits a wedge. "I never know when it's going to happen," he said, while admitting that the knee has gotten
increasingly painful each day.
Asked what he needed to do Sunday to claim his fourteenth major title, Woods joked, "Just like today 17 pars and a birdie." When the laughter faded, he added, "I hope to be a little more consistent tomorrow."
The rest of the field didn't evaporate under Tiger's heroics, it only seemed that way. Heading into Sunday's finale, Woods leads by one over Westwood, by two over Mediate, by three over Ogilvy and D.J. Trahan and by four over a group of five players that includes Karlsson.