Tiger Woods rocks Tour Championship with first win in five years

(TNS) ATLANTA – When that long-awaited, oft-debated and sorely-doubted next win did come for Tiger Woods, it was so deceivingly simple. It required nothing more from him than to be steady while all others at East Lake were losing their minds.

Just stand strong in a swirl of the very chaos his presence atop the leaderboard created – you know, be Tiger Woods – for 18 more holes and maybe the best golf comeback story since Ben Hogan vs. the Greyhound bus would have its proper next chapter.

From a modest round of 1-over 71 Sunday came a most extraordinary turn of events at the Tour Championship. Woods won for the first time in five years. And drowned out in the roar of a gallery turned to a mob were the murmurs that he’d never add to his cache of 79 PGA Tour victories following his 2017 spinal fusion.

“Eighty (as in wins) is a big number,” he said. “I’ve been sitting on 79 for about five years now and to get 80 is a pretty damned good feeling.”

In the backwash of history, Justin Rose birdied 18 to Tiger Woods celebrates as he wins the Tour Championship on the 18th green during the final round on Sunday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

shimmy up the leaderboard just enough – finishing tied for fourth at 6 under – to claim the season-ending Fedex Cup and the $10 million bonus.

A nice little perk for him. A priceless experience for the thousands who followed Woods around East Lake jostling for a decent view of the Woods Revival. And while they all strained to get closer to Woods, those inside the ropes who were supposed to make things hard on him

couldn’t get out of his way quickly enough.

It could be argued that Woods won this thing Saturday, with his run of six birdies over the first seven holes. For his last 29 holes, he was 2-over par, but nobody could make anything of the opportunity. And for the 54th time in 58 tournaments in which Woods had at least a share of the thirdround lead, he closed the deal. The most remarkable number of this day.

The two who began Sunday three strokes back of Woods just evaporated in the heat of the moment. Rose shot 73, while Woods’ playing partner Rory Mcilroy shot 74. It was up to Billy Horschel, coming up from nowhere, shooting 66 and pushing to within two shots of Woods (11 under for the week) at the end, to give Sunday the least bit of competitive edge. It otherwise was a coronation.

Woods arrived for his 2:05 tee time like a star for his big film debut. All that was missing was the red carpet. His every step to the tee box was through a cordon thick with people, and as he approached, their voices were a rising wave of noise that Woods practically could have ridden to No. 1 had he packed a boogie board in his golf bag.

Woods was solid and measured to the end.

“Some of the players have seen what I’ve gone through and they know how hard it was just to get back to playing golf again, forget the elite level,” he said. “Just to be able to play golf again and enjoy being with my kids and living that life (was enough).

“And then, lo and behold, I’m able to do this.” the entire year,” said Matt Olson, whose 28th home run gives him the most of any American League first baseman. “We’ve been looking a the big picture the entire time. We’ll go to Seattle and go get ‘em tomorrow.”

Manager Bob Melvin, whose team finished last in the AL West the previous three seasons, said clinching a postseason bid in front of home fans would have been ideal. But having to wait another day or so won’t diminish the achievement.

“Anytime you have a chance to get to the postseason, especially a team

that was not expected to be where we are right now, it will be pretty fulfilling wherever we do it,” he said.

The A’s (94-62) had won four in a row and scored walk-off wins over Minnesota the two previous nights. But the Twins set the tone early when Jake Cave blasted a two-run homer off Trevor Cahill in the top of the first.

Olson cut the margin in half with his homer in the second inning, but the A’s could do little with Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson (9-13). He allowed just three hits after the second inning until being lifted with one out in the eighth after throwing 114 pitches.