honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 18, 2002

Woods first to three-peat in three tournaments

USA Today

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods bagged a Bay Hill Invitational three-peat yesterday and enhanced his reputation as golf's greatest closer.

Tiger Woods, teeing off on the 18th hole, felt right at home in winning at a course near his home in Windermere, Fla.

Associated Press

He won the tournament for the third consecutive time, shooting a final round 3-under-par 69 for a total of 13-under 275 at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. He beat runner-up Michael Campbell of New Zealand by four strokes.

Woods became the first player ever to win three different PGA Tour events three consecutive times. He's also tripled at The Memorial and the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, winning each of them from 1999 through 2001.

"It's a great feeling," said Woods, 26, who lives at Isleworth in nearby Windermere. "They were three totally different scenarios how I won this tournament. It's fun to play in front of your home crowd."

Woods passed three players — Bay Hill host Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen — who won two tournaments three consecutive times. "It's always nice to do that to Arnold, so I can give him a little jab, because he does it to me," Woods said playfully.

He earned $720,000 for his first victory in 2002 and extended his lead on the PGA Tour career money list. His total is now is $27,766,727.

It was his 30th career PGA Tour win since turning pro Aug. 27, 1996.

Woods started yesterday's final round with a one-shot lead over Len Mattiace.

Phil Mickelson, who began three behind, made a run at Woods and led briefly by two strokes, but bogeyed four of his last five holes to finish tied for third at 8-under 280.

Woods will play in The Players Championship starting Thursday, and The Masters in three weeks.