Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Tiger gives electrifying performance.
Casey gets the win at Valspar, but Woods’ T-2 electrifies crowds
PALM HARBOR — If he could not win, Paul Casey said Friday he was pulling for Tiger Woods at the Valspar Championship.
Woods will have to wait at least another week, because Casey mounted a Sunday charge at the challenging Copperhead Course to record a six-under par 65 and earn the 40-year-old Englishman his first PGA Tour win in nine years.
Seeking his first victory in nearly five years himself, Woods finished a shot back when his 37-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole ran out of gas. The 42-year-old settled for a 1-under par 70 that could have been a good bit lower to end the week at 9-under 275 total for his best finish since he tied for second at the Barclays in August 2013. “I had chance,” Woods said. “I really did.” Woods now carries a head of steam into this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando and is closer to winning again than anyone could have imagined less than a month ago.
Bay Hill Club and Lodge, the site of eight of Woods’ 79 PGA Tour wins, would be the perfect setting for him to complete a comeback clearly ahead of schedule.
“I’m very excited,” Woods said of his first appearance at Bay Hill since 2013. “It’s a golf course I like. I’ve played well there throughout the years and just haven’t been back in a couple of years. “Nice to get back.” Woods had his chances to return to the winner’s circle Sunday at Innisbrook Resort outside Tampa.
But his iron play was spotty a day after he was complete command to card a textbook 67. Woods consequently needed to make some putts Sunday and failed to do so until draining a 44-footer on the par-3 17th hole.
He needed another long birdie putt to force a playoff with Casey, but Woods’ effort on the par-4 18th hole ended up just under three feet short.
Woods finished the day with just two birdies after he made at least four in each of the previous three rounds and totaled 14 prior to Sunday. But he remained upbeat about his overall performance.
“I felt very comfortable,” Woods said. “My game was quite solid this entire week. As a whole, I felt very good about what I did this week.”
Last month during the West Coast swing, Woods looked worlds away from contending again. He missed the cut badly Feb. 16 at the Genesis Open following a sloppy second-round 76 at Riviera Country Club.
But Woods’ return to Florida, where he has won 16 times during his career, has ignited his golf game. In the process, he has served notice he is ready to tangle with the best players in golf on the game’s toughest layouts.
Multiple major winners Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy failed to make the cut at the Copperhead Course. Ranked No. 388 in the world entering the week, Woods finished Sunday tied with No. 27 Patrick Reed, a shot ahead of No. 11 Sergio Garcia and two shots ahead of No. 5 Justin Rose.
Reed had a better chance than to catch Casey, who began the day five shots back of 54-hold leader Corey Conners, who recorded a Sunday 77.
But Reed bogeyed the 72nd hole when his 44-foot birdie putt did not make it over the crest of the hill and rolled back to his feet, leading to a demoralizing bogey.
Woods had mixed emotions following just his fourth PGA Tour start since his latest comeback.
He would have savored his first win since the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational. Woods also sees rapid improvement less than a year after spinal fusion surgery to relieve the nerve pain that had plagued him for years.
Everyone sees Woods’ progress, too, and cannot get enough of it.
Saturday’s third round was the highest-rated telecast of a golf tournament in 12 years, not including major championships. Huge crowds swarmed Woods at Innisbrook Resort.
Playing with Woods Saturday and Sunday, Brandt Snedeker had the best seat in the house during the weekend.
“I don't see it going backwards from here, only going to get better,” Snedeker said.