Woods warms up with victory

By Larry Lage
Associated Press

GRAND BLANC, Mich. — Tiger Woods has won the PGA Championship two ways: by playing the previous week and by practicing and resting.

Tiger Woods reacts to a missed putt on the eighth green during the final round of the Buick Open. Associated Press

Woods shot a 2-under 70 yesterday to win the Buick Open by four shots at 17-under. It was his 33rd PGA Tour victory and fourth in his last eight starts.

"You want to feel like you're playing well going into a championship," Woods said. "And any time you win, you feel good."

Although he missed a chance to win the Grand Slam with his 28th-place tie at the British Open three weeks ago, Woods has an opportunity to do something no other golfer has, beginning Thursday at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minn.

Woods, who won this year's Masters and U.S. Open, will be the first to win three majors in a year twice if he wins the PGA Championship. Ben Hogan did it in 1953 and Woods, who has won seven of the last 12 majors, did it two years ago.

"That would rank right up there," Woods said. "Hopefully I can add that to my list. It's already been a successful year and I would like to make it even more successful."

Esteban Toledo, who began the final round one stroke behind Woods, stayed with the world's best golfer through 12 holes, but then collapsed with three straight bogeys.

Toledo shot a 1-over 73 to finish at 13-under, tied for second with Mark O'Meara (68), Brian Gay (68) and Fred Funk (71). It matched Toledo's best finish and moved him from 118 to 85 on the money list.

"I wasn't nervous at all," Toledo said. "He's the best player and I tried to put some pressure on him. It just didn't work."