Monday, June 04, 2001
Tiger sets sights on U.S. Open
Woods 'clear favorite' for fifth straight major title
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DUBLIN — Having won the Memorial Tournament for the third straight year, can Tiger Woods win a fifth straight major championship at the U.S. Open at Southern Hills in Tulsa in two weeks?
“He's a clear favorite,” said Paul Azinger, who was runner-up by seven strokes to Woods at the 26th Memorial. “But nobody is going to give it to him, I can promise you that. He's going to have to go out and earn it. But right now, he's the man.”
On Sunday, Woods won the Memorial Tournament for an unprecedented third straight time and became the first player since Tom Watson in 1980 to win the same tournament three years in a row (Byron Nelson Classic, 1978-80).
Woods, a shot down when the day began, fired a final-round 66 and won the tournament by seven strokes over Azinger and Sergio Garcia.
Woods said he is confident in his game but isn't predicting victory in two weeks.
“There's no secret to winning the U.S. Open,” Woods said. “Hit it straight, hit good irons, make a lot of putts; it's really not that complicated.
“It all starts off the tee. If you can't hit the fairway, you can't win.
“... The whole key to playing a U.S. Open is to get the ball in play,” he said. “From there, you can make up your mind on what you want to do: play aggressively, play safe, use slopes, not use slopes, whatever it may be, whatever the situation is. But get the ball in the fairway.”
Stewart Cink, who finished in fourth place, eight strokes behind Woods, said if any course is “Tiger-proofed,” it is Southern Hills.
“I played a practice round there two weeks ago,” Cink
said. “That is a different style of golf than here. It's wide here, and the wet fairways this week made it even wider. Southern Hills takes the driver out of your hands on a lot of holes.
“It takes my driver out of my hands, and I'm only a little above average in driving length,” he said. “There's just no chance for (Woods) to hit a lot of drivers there.”
Woods, however, is not conceding the big stick.
“It depends how you are playing, how the winds are,” Woods said. “You can hit driver a lot or you can run it along the ground. Depends on what the conditions are.”
Woods said he is in a better frame of mind than the last time he played Southern Hills in 1996. His father, Earl, was ill, although he later recovered.
“My mind is a lot clearer,” Woods said. “Hopefully it will be a lot clearer during the Open than it was in '96.”
That's not good news for the rest of the field.
Woods finished 17 under par, not as good as the 19-under he shot last year, but he was nonetheless pleased.
“It's awfully nice,” he said. “I've won in three different ways here, but I've somehow figured out a way to get into the winner's circle. To be able to put my name on that trophy is awfully special.”
Azinger was so disappointed with the way he played Sunday — 2-over 74 compared to Woods' 6-under 66 — that he made an astonishing admission to Woods in that same conversation walking up the 17th fairway.
“I'm sorry I wasn't a better player for you today,” Azinger said.
“Thank you” for not making it tougher, Woods answered.
Afterward, Azinger explained what he meant by the remark to Woods.
“I hated that we didn't have a closer fight,” he said. “I apologized to him because I think, at this point, he looks so bored, almost. I mean, I just said, "Hey, I'm sorry I didn't give you a better game.'”
Sports Stories
Cardinals 4, Reds 3
Reds send Reith to Louisville
Cards get lift from No. 8 hitter
Nichting looks like 'prospect' at 35
Boone still hampered by hand
Extra lineup cards needed
Box, runs
Stadium problems unresolved
XU's West finalist for U.S. team
Tiger sets sights on U.S. Open
