Tiger claws his way back
(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2005-08-18 06:00

SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey: Right from the start Tiger Woods must have had a feeling it was not going to be his week at the US PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods of the U.S. reacts to an errant tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, August 14, 2005. [Reuters]

When Woods arrived at Baltusrol Golf Club on Monday someone had taken his parking spot. After he got off to his worst start in a major championship with an opening round of 75, the only signs were those pointing towards an early exit.

That could have come sooner than expected if officials had not dismissed suggestions that Woods's caddie Steve Williams had stepped on his ball.

This could have resulted in a penalty stroke and possible disqualification for signing an incorrect scorecard.

The world No 1 continued to struggle and an uneven second round ended with Woods needing to drain his final putt just to survive the cut.

When Saturday's third round began Woods sat 12 shots behind leader Phil Mickelson and he bogeyed the first and third holes.

However, by the time they handed out the pay cheques on Monday the 10 times major winner was near the head of the queue after clawing his way back to just two strokes off the winner, Mickelson.

The message was clear -- at a major championship no lead, no matter how large, is safe with Tiger Woods on the prowl.

"That's why I've busted my butt on the range for hours on end and made changes to get to this point where I'm able to compete at the highest level in major championships. That's where you want to be," said Woods.

"I've made some wonderful strides over the past year or so and what's so gratifying is that I'm starting to see the fruits of my labour."

Swing overhaul

When the new season began Woods was in the latter stages of a problematic swing overhaul and had suffered a major championship drought of 30 months and counting.

While there are still a few kinks to be worked out in his game, Woods's performances this season have rekindled memories of 2000 when he held three major titles.

With the 2005 Masters and British Open titles already secured, Woods came to Baltusrol bidding to become the first player to win at least three majors in the same season twice.

If not for a final round stumble over the closing holes at Pinehurst No 2 that allowed Michael Campbell to walk away with the US Open crown, Woods might have been positioned to claim one of sport's greatest achievements - the Grand Slam.

"The only thing you can do is take a learning experience from it, positives and negatives, and apply them to the future. What did you do right, what did you do wrong, and I did a lot of things right this week," said Woods.

"Unfortunately I did a few things wrong on the greens, got off to poor starts every day and had to somehow fight back.

"I was able to do it."

Combining his rebuilt game with a fierce competitiveness -- fuelled by his ambition to surpass Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 majors -- Woods is poised to embark on another extended period of domination. He has reclaimed the number one world ranking, and won four titles and over $7 million this season.

So it comes as no surprise that his fellow players had little sympathy when Woods was languishing near the bottom of the leaderboard last week.

"If you're looking for me to shed a tear, it's not going to happen," Mickelson said.

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