Golf: Patrick Cantlay bags Nicklaus Trophy as PGA Player of the Year

FedEx Cup winner Patrick Cantlay is the PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Cantlay, 29, led wire to wire at East Lake to claim the Tour Championship, capping a four-win 2021 that included $7,638,805 in official winnings plus $15 million as the FedEx Cup champion.

The PGA Tour Player of the Year wins the Jack Nicklaus Award and the honor is determined by vote of the Tour membership. 

Cantlay won despite a stellar year from Jon Rahm, who was a finalist along with Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English and Collin Morikawa.

"The fact that it's voted on by my fellow PGA Tour players, I think that means a lot to me," Cantlay said Tuesday. "It wasn't something that I necessarily thought was on the radar middle of the year, but then I closed really well and played a lot of really nice golf towards the end."

From a full year off and the verge of retirement in 2016, Cantlay won the ZOZO Championship, Memorial Tournament and BMW Championship before closing out the season with the Tour Championship victory.

"On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I would like to congratulate Patrick Cantlay on being honored as the 2021 PGA TOUR Player of the Year," said commissioner Jay Monahan. 

"Receiving this award through a member vote reflects the respect his peers have for Patrick. His play throughout 2020-21 was phenomenal, and in stepping up to win consecutive FedExCup Playoffs events and the FedExCup, Patrick was at his best when it mattered most in our season."

No player has won four tournaments in a season since Justin Thomas in 2016-17. Cantlay also finished runner-up at The American Express and had seven top-10 finishes in 24 starts this season.

Cantlay beat Rahm by one stroke at the Tour Championship and previously knocked off DeChambeau in a six-hole playoff at the BMW Championship.

-reuters

Tiger Woods commits to first two US PGA playoff events

MIAMI – Reigning Masters champion Tiger Woods committed Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) to playing in US PGA Tour playoff events the next two weeks, hoping for the chance to defend his Tour Championship title.

Woods, a 15-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 major wins by Jack Nicklaus, tweeted that he would play in the Northern Trust at Liberty National in suburban New York next week and the BMW Championship at Medinah near Chicago in two weeks.

"Ready to begin the FedExCup playoffs starting with @TheNTGolf and then the @BMWChamps. Hope to see you there," Woods tweeted.

Woods was a Northern Trust runner-up at Liberty National in 2009 and 2013 and captured PGA Championships at Medinah in 1999 and 2006.

The 43-year-old US star has won 81 US PGA titles, one shy of the career record set by Sam Snead.

Woods, a two-time winner of the US PGA playoff crown, stands 27th in the season points standings, at risk of not cracking the top 30 who qualify for the season-ending showdown at East Lake in Atlanta.

The top 125 players on the season points list after this week's Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, will secure 2019-20 US PGA berths and advance to the three-event playoffs. From a field of 125 at the Northern Trust only 70 advance to the BMW and from there only 30 reach the Tour Championship.

If Woods plays at the Northern Trust and BMW events in consecutive weeks, it will be the first time he has played in back-to-back weeks since February at Riviera and the WGC Mexico Championship.

Should he then attempt to defend his crown in the Tour Championship, it would be the first time he has played three weeks in a row since last year's playoffs.

Woods has played a very limited schedule since capturing his fifth green jacket last April at Augusta National, snapping a major win drought dating to 2008 and serving notice he had completed his fightback following multiple back surgeries.

Since the Masters, Woods has played only this year's three other major tournaments and the Memorial, a Nicklaus-hosted US Open tuneup event. In his most recent start, he missed the cut two weeks ago at the British Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

source: philstar.com

Koepka, Woods chase history at Pebble Beach

Brooks Koepka launches his bid for an historic US Open treble on Thursday at Pebble Beach, where Tiger Woods once separated himself from all rivals and now returns chasing a 16th major.

Pebble Beach, where Woods won the first of his three US Opens in 2000 with a breathtaking 12-under par total and a crushing 15-stroke margin, is a vastly different player now at 43 and with spinal fusion surgery behind him.

But he cemented his return to golf’s elite with his 15th major win at the the US Masters in April.

He has risen to fifth in the world rankings led by Koepka, who has won four majors in less than two years: back-to-back US Opens in 2017 and 2018 and back-to-back PGA Championships in 2018 and last month at Bethpage Black.

With his win at Shinnecock Hills last year Koepka became the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 to win consecutive US Opens.

Willie Anderson, from 1903-05, is the only player to have won three straight.

“I’m not thinking about it,” Koepka said of his treble chance. “I know the odds are stacked up probably even more against me now. It’s hard to win the same event three times in a row.”

But he likes the idea of pursuing history at Pebble, where prior editions have produced champions such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and, of course, Woods.

The beauty of Pebble Beach’s coastal views can distract from the challenge it presents, especially with the pinched fairways and deep rough of a US Open.

“The rough is definitely going to be a factor this week,” Koepka said. “Very juicy. You need to put the ball in the fairways.

“These greens are so small, you can almost put it in the center of every green and have 20 feet, no matter where the flag stick is. It really comes down to who’s going to make putts.”

Woods said the 7,075-yard, par-71 course is playing similarly to the last time it hosted the US Open in 2010, when Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell won.

“We’re all going to be playing from virtually the same spots, and especially if it dries out,” Woods said.

source: philstar.com

Tiger wins 15th major title with spectacular Masters victory

AUGUSTA – Tiger Woods completed an epic comeback from career-threatening injury and scandal by winning the 83rd Masters on Sunday (Monday Manila time), capturing his 15th major title to end an 11-year major drought.

The 43-year-old American superstar, who underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2017 due to chronic back pain, seized his first major title since the 2008 US Open.

"It's overwhelming just because of what has transpired," Woods said. "I could barely walk. Couldn't sleep. Couldn't walk. Couldn't do anything.

"To have the opportunity to come back, it's one of the biggest wins I've ever had for sure."

Winning a fifth Masters title, and his first since 2005, cemented a fairytale comeback to the pinnacle of golf for Woods, whose career imploded after a 2009 sex scandal and nagging knee and back injuries that required a total of seven surgeries.


"It's the best I've felt with a driver in years," Woods said. "I felt in control of my long game and it really paid off."

With fans chanting his name, an emotional Woods walked off the 18th green and hugged his mother Kultida, daughter Sam and son Charlie just as he had embraced his late father Earl there after his first major victory at the 1997 Masters.

"It has come full circle," Woods said. "This tournament has meant so much to me and to have everyone here means so much to me and my family.

"Now to be the champion -- 22 years between wins is a long time -- it's unreal for me to experience this. I just couldn't be more happy, more excited. I'm just kind of at a loss for words."

Racing to finish before an oncoming thunderstorm, players created their own electric atmosphere, spectators roaring repeatedly for sensational shotmaking on one of golf's iconic stages.

Woods fired a final-round two-under par 70 to finish on 13-under 275 for a one-shot victory to capture a $2.07 million (1.82 million euros) top prize and the green jacket symbolizing Masters supremacy.

An all-American trio of three-time major winner Brooks Koepka, world number two Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele shared second on 276.

Jack says 'Well done'

It was the fifth Masters title for Woods, his first since 2005, and it moved him three shy of the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus.

"A big well done from me to Tiger," Nicklaus tweeted. "I'm so happy for him and for the game of golf this is so fantastic."

Woods has won majors at Bethpage and Pebble Beach, where next month's PGA Championship and June's US Open will be played, but he's not chasing Nicklaus.

"I'm sure I will probably think about it going down the road. Right now it's a little soon. I'm just enjoying 15," Woods said.

"I don't know if he's worried or not. I'm sure he's home in West Palm (Beach, Florida) just chilling and watching."

The triumph was the first major victory for Woods when he did not lead after 54 holes, having started the day two adrift of reigning British Open champion Francesco Molinari.

Woods served notice he had returned to form by contending last year at the British Open and PGA before snapping a five-year title drought by capturing the Tour Championship.

"It's the best I've felt with a driver in years," Woods said. "I felt in control of my long game and it really paid off."

Woods grabbed the lone lead on a jam-packed leaderboard with a tap-in birdie at the par-5 15th, a four-foot birdie putt following at the par-3 16th to double the advantage, allowing him to bogey the last and still win.

"I was as patient as I've been in a number of years out there," Woods said. "I was controlling my shot placement, especially seeing that board. It was a who's who.

"All these different scenarios keep flying around. It was an amazing buzz to follow what was going on and yet still focus on what I was trying to do out there. I liked it."

Woods parred 17 and walked up to the 18th green to crowds 20-people deep applauding with delight, but he kept a stoic visage until the job was complete, a tap-in for bogey followed by a fist pump and a scream of joy in celebration of one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history.

"You couldn't have had more drama than we all had out there," Woods said. "Now I know why I'm balding. This stuff is hard."

One shy of Snead's mark

Woods, one shy of matching Nicklaus for the most career Masters wins, won his 81st career US PGA victory, leaving him one win short of the all-time record held by Sam Snead.

He became the second-oldest Masters winner, trailing only Nicklaus at 46 in 1986.

Woods also set a record for the longest gap between Masters triumphs, the 14-year spread one year longer than the old mark set by South African Gary Player from 1961 to 1974.

Augusta National moved the final round to Sunday morning due to expected afternoon storms.

source: philstar.com

Tiger Woods wins Tour Championship for 80th PGA Tour title

ATLANTA — A comeback not even Tiger Woods saw coming a year ago.

A chaotic celebration that golf hasn't seen even in the best of times.

Woods delivered the perfect ending to his amazing return from four back surgeries on Sunday with a performance that felt like the old days. He left the competition feeling hopeless as he built a five-shot lead early and hung on to win the Tour Championship.

Woods raised both arms over his head after he tapped in for par and a 1-over 71 for a two-shot victory over Billy Horschel, the 80th victory of his PGA Tour career and his first in more than five years.

"It was a grind out there," Woods said. "I loved every bit of it."

It felt like a coronation coming down the 18th green after he hit his second shot to the par 5 safely in a bunker in front of the green. The crowd came through the ropes and walked behind him, just like that walk from the left side of the 18th fairway when he won the Masters in 1997, and when the enormous gallery of Chicago followed after him when he won the Western Open that summer.

Only when he was on the green, the last one to putt after Rory McIlroy tapped in for birdie, did it start to sink in. "All of a sudden it hit me that I was going to win the tournament. I started tearing up a little bit," Woods said. "I can't believe I pulled this off."

One year ago, Woods was still waiting for his lower back to fuse and wasn't sure he could ever play again. He told stories of being unable to get off the couch to watch his kids play soccer, much less to chip and putt. He said after the second and third back surgeries in the latter end of 2015 that he already has achieved plenty in golf and anything else would be "gravy."

Woods brought it all to life over four days at East Lake, and the players who have taken turns at No. 1 during his absence caught the full brunt of it. McIlroy faded early. Justin Rose faded late.

All that was left was the 42-year-old Woods in that Sunday red shirt blazing brighter than ever and a smile he couldn't shake walking up to collect another trophy. He finished at 11-under 269 and won $1.62 million, along with a $3 million bonus for finishing second in the FedEx Cup.

The only disappointment — a minor one under the circumstances — was realizing as he came down the 18th that Rose had made birdie to finish in a three-way tie for fourth, which gave him the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus. Without that birdie, Woods would have won his third FedEx Cup title after starting at No. 20 going into the Tour Championship. Rose's four bogeys over the last 10 holes cost him the No. 1 ranking back to Dustin Johnson, who shot 67 and finished third.

source: philstar.com

This version of Woods seems like a nostalgia act

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — All around him on a windy summer day on the links of Carnoustie, the leaders were imploding as Tiger Woods moved into the lead at the turn. It felt like old times at the British Open, as familiar as his Sunday (Monday Manila time) red shirt and the swarm of fans that cheered his every shot.

Then Woods imploded, too, and there's something that's become increasingly familiar about that.

If this was the Woods of 15 years ago, he likely would be "the champion golfer of the year," as they say over here, and have his name on the claret jug a fourth time. The fans felt this could be the culmination of the comeback. Twitter told late-rising Americans to get to their screens, and fans at church services checked the scores from Scotland incredulously.

But what felt like old times for a brief moment ended up as just another collapse story, like the ones Woods' fans have seen more recently.


Francesco Molinari, Woods' partner on Sunday, won the tournament with no bogeys over the final 37 holes . Woods finished tied for sixth.

Woods flinched when it mattered most, the nerves of a 42-year-old on display for all to see. Just when he took the lead and everyone's imagination began to swirl about what might be, he kicked away his best chance of breaking a decade-long drought in major championships.

Even a long hug from his two children afterward wasn't enough to ease the sting.

"A little ticked off at myself, for sure," Woods said. "I had a chance starting that back nine to do something, and I didn't do it."

Woods had the tournament in his hands after hitting a brilliant fairway bunker shot to make par on No. 10. He walked to the next tee with a one-shot lead.

Then his tee shot went right, and his second shot veered way left. Woods got a break by hitting someone in the gallery, but then left his pitch hanging precariously on the side of a pot bunker.
When he missed an 8-footer to make double bogey he was out of the lead. Another bogey on the next hole, and he was basically out of the tournament.

It used to be that Woods was steely and superhuman, and no one dared get in his way. Now he's more of a nostalgia act teasing fans with sparks of his past greatness.

"He wouldn't tell you, but he's human," Jordan Spieth said. "That kind of pressure that he would have felt leading the Open on a Sunday is no different than anybody else, especially having not experienced it for so long."

Spieth had his own issues, of course, kicking away a share of the lead on his way to a fat 76 in the final round. But Spieth is a 24-year-old with three major titles and many years to get more.

Woods is in a race against time — and that's a race no one ever seems to win.

"It didn't feel any different," he insisted. "It didn't feel any different to be next to the lead and knowing what I need to do. I've done it so many different ways."

But it was different, as different as his bald spot is to the full head of hair he had in his prime.

It wasn't like the course wasn't gettable. Molinari didn't make a bogey on his way to a 69 while playing alongside Woods. A Brit named Eddie Pepperell shot 67 with a hangover to end up tied with him.

"Sometimes I have a few drinks," said Pepperell, who finished as Woods was in the lead. "Tiger is minus-7, he didn't have a drink last night, I bet. Proper athlete."

Of that there is little doubt. Woods looks as strong as he did in his prime, even though he's had surgeries, a sex-scandal, a divorce and a drug-related DUI.

But good muscles don't mean calm nerves. And throughout his comeback year Woods has misfired every time he has gotten near contention.

It might be because there is so much as stake, despite a legacy from his earlier years that is already in golf's record books.

Another major would have validated years of struggles. A tie for sixth means nothing.

Woods embraced his two children, telling them he hoped they were proud of him for trying hard. He spoke about it later, in a rare personal admission for a player who grew up as a celebrity and has fought hard to keep his privacy over the years.

"It's pretty emotional because they gave me some pretty significant hugs there and squeezed," Woods said. "I know that they know how much this championship means to me and how much it feels good to be back playing again. To me, it's just so special to have them aware because I've won a lot of golf tournaments in my career, but they don't remember any of them."

It was a tender moment between a father and his kids, but also another reminder that Father Time waits for no one.

Not even Tiger Woods.

source: philstar.com

McIlroy off to solid start at Masters, keeps Slam in sight

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy wanted to get off to a solid start at the Masters, his latest shot at a career Grand Slam.

Saving par on the final three holes in the opening round Thursday helped him keep it in sight.

McIlroy shot a 3-under 69, breaking 70 in the first round at Augusta National for the first time since 2011. He shot a 65 that year and looked like he would win a green jacket before a final-round meltdown.

McIlroy heads into the second round Friday three shots behind Jordan Spieth, who made five consecutive birdies on the back nine to build a two-stroke lead over Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar.


"You look at it and not anyone is really getting away," McIlroy said. "Jordan had a pretty strong finish there. But this is my best start in a few years. And, yeah, it's such a hard golf course to play catch-up on. If you start to chase it around here, that's when you start to make mistakes.

"But to be right up there and have the ability to stay patient because of the position I'm in, that's a nice luxury I have over the next few days."

He can thank a few timely shots down the stretch.

McIlroy sank an 8-footer for par at No. 16, holed a sweeping, downhill, 13-footer for par on the next green and then chipped to a couple feet to save another par on 18.

"It's not always the birdies that stick out in your mind," McIlroy said, calling those shots the highlights of his round. "Those three holes. Big for momentum. I don't feel like I'm going out trying to get those two shots or whatever back (Friday) morning. I can just be relaxed going on to the first tee, not being too concerned about trying to get those birdies back. So, yeah, they were huge."

The first time McIlroy had a chance for the Grand Slam at the Masters, he opened 71-71 and found himself 12 shots back because Spieth ran away with it.

"Obviously it was very benign for us coming in the last few holes," McIlroy said. "I'm not surprised about (Spieth) at all. He loves this golf course. He plays well around here. He always has. And he's going to be tough to beat this week."

source: philstar.com