Monday, January 28, 2008

WOODS WINS FOURTH STRAIGHT BUICK
INVITATIONAL - BUT FOUR BOGEYS
LEAVE HIM FEELING "DOWN"

Tiger Woods comfortably claimed his fourth consecutive Buick Invitational title and his sixth in all in the tournament by eight shots at Torrey Pines, San Diego in California but was still left feeling slightly disappointed by his final-round one-under-par effort of 71.
The world No. 1 triumphed with a score of 19 under par 269 over the venue which will stage this year's US Open. He finished well ahead of second-placed Japanese player Ryuji Imada, who carded a five-under-par round of 67.
Woods -ever the perfectionist - felt "down" because he recorded four bogeys over his final 18 holes to return a score in the 70s for the first time since the Deutsche Bank Championship last September.
He said: "Today, I wanted to go out there and shoot an under-par round and have no bogeys. I got half of it right. Torrey Pines has been really kind to me, ever since junior golf all the way through my professional ranks, I've somehow really seemed to have played well here. It fits my eye. I feel very comfortable here.
"It's just one of those things where some people just have an affinity for certain golf courses. My buddy (Mark) O'Meara won five times up at Pebble Beach, I guess Sam (Snead) at Greensboro and (Jack) Nicklaus at Augusta felt the same."
It was also a 62nd victory for Woods, who drew level with Arnold Palmer on the PGA Tour's all-time winners list. Palmer paid tribute to Woods` achievement, saying: "I congratulate Tiger. I'm sure there are many, many more (wins) coming in the future. There isn't any question about that."
Woods began the final round with an eight-shot lead and extended it to nine with a birdie at the first. It became 10 when he picked up another at the sixth before carding a bogey at the seventh.
Woods made three birdies on the back nine but also recorded three consecutive bogeys.
Imada, on the other hand, stormed up the leaderboard from a tie for eighth into second after sinking nine birdies against four bogeys while Stewart Cink, who began the final round in second place, shot a one-over-par 73 to finish in a tie for third alongside Rory Sabbatini at nine under.
Imada said: "My goal going into today was to finish second, and you know, that's almost like winning the golf tournament to me. With Tiger having an eight-shot lead or whatever there was pretty much no chance for me to catch him."

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