Tiger Woods: He's got his groove back

Tiger Woods won his 74th PGA tournament Sunday at Congressional Country Club. Tiger Woods has won three tournaments so far this year, more than any other golfer on the PGA tour.

By Doug Ferguson,?Associated Press / July 2, 2012

Tiger Woods reacts on the 18th green after winning the AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Sunday, July 1, 2012.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Enlarge

The images of Tiger Woods, dressed in his red shirt and raising both arms on the 18th green after another victory, are no longer highlights from years gone by.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "off"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

When he outlasted Bo Van Pelt in a tense duel on the back-nine Sunday at Congressional, Woods won for third time in his last seven tournaments dating to the late March. He still hasn't figured out the majors this year, though he has two more remaining.

And while winning the AT&T National kept him at No. 4 in the world, he is starting to be looked upon the way he once was.

"I think he's the only guy to win three tournaments on tour this year, is that correct?" Van Pelt said. "On three different courses. And he was leading the U.S. Open after two days. So I'd say that he's playing the best golf in the world right now."

In PICTURES: Tiger Woods through the years

Woods closed with a 2-under 69, making only one bogey in his final 44 holes on a course that was tougher than it was for the U.S. Open last year. Van Pelt had him in trouble late in the round, but only briefly, and Woods effectively pulled away on the last two holes by letting his opponents get the bad breaks and make the bogeys.

He now was 74 wins on the PGA Tour, moving past Jack Nicklaus into second place, leaving him eight wins away from the record held by Sam Snead. Perhaps it's only fitting that Woods now heads to The Greenbrier Classic, where Snead was the first head professional.

Woods at least moved to No. 1 in two other categories ? the PGA Tour money list and the FedEx Cup standings, for the first time since September 2009.

At this rate, Woods is more likely to get to Snead's record of 82 tour wins than the record that means the most to him ? the 18 majors won by Nicklaus. Woods has been stuck on 14 since 2008 when he won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines on a shattered left leg.

"It feels great to get to 74 wins and obviously pass Jack," Woods said. "I did it at 36 years old, and it's something I'm very proud of."

Not bad for a guy who only four months ago walked off the course at Doral with another injury to his left Achilles tendon. He returned two weeks later and won Bay Hill, and off he went.

"I remember there was a time when people were saying I could never win again," Woods said.

His latest win took a lot of effort.

Brendon de Jonge, the 54-hole leader for the first time, didn't make a birdie and shot 77 to quickly fall out of contention. Adam Scott ran off four straight birdies on the front nine and was briefly part of a five-way tie for the lead until he made back-to-back bogeys on the back nine. Hunter Mahan also fell back.

It came down to Woods and Van Pelt, who have known each other since junior golf and could not be any more different. Woods is high energy, who now has won an astounding 27 percent of the PGA Tour events he has played. Van Pelt is laid-back Oklahoman, whose only official tour win came three years ago in Milwaukee, a tournament that no longer exists.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/EL66aTw3oKQ/Tiger-Woods-He-s-got-his-groove-back

rampart jimmy fallon jimmy fallon nick collins marco rubio marco rubio wwdc