Tiger Woods described it as a stampede. It was more like the Running of the Bulls at Pamplona.
Woods was on his way to his 80th PGA Tour victory when he marched downhill towards the 18th hole. It had been 1,877 days since he won his last title at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, in Akron. The ropes were opened behind him and, fueled by alcohol, a sea rushed past the troopers to celebrate his long-awaited win. Volunteer marshals were knocked down.
I was walking along Tiger’s Gallery that day, when it became a riot. I flashed my inside the ropes card just as an officer, built like a linebacker, was about to flatten Adam Hadwin style me, but he stopped just in time and I managed to survive.
I have many great memories from one of the most exciting tournaments that I’ve had the privilege of covering. I couldn’t stop chuckling after Roger Maltbie, NBC’s Roger Maltbie, sat down next to Woods and told him, “You’re a lot like Tiger Woods.”
Woods took a brief break from his attack on the par to smile at Maltbie.
Woods took the lead after the first round, with a 65. Golf fans knew that something was about to happen. Vince Carter, former NBA All-Star, walked with Tiger’s group inside the ropes on Saturday, while Warrick Dunn climbed out of a La-Z-Boy to peer over a mesh fencing to watch Woods drive 320 yards and stuff a wedge into 7 feet.
Tiger’s Comeback Tour, after a fourth back operation that fused vertebrae was nothing short of a miracle. The faithful showed their excitement for Tiger as soon as he arrived at the golf course. He had a 3-stroke advantage over Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was stunned when Tiger’s birdie putt from 10 feet landed. He finished in 74.
Woods was five shots ahead at the turn. But it became a bit dicey towards the end when Billy Horschel shot 9 under par and Tiger’s advantage was reduced to just two. Woods had a five-shot lead at the turn, but it got dicey near the end when Billy Horschel shot 9 under and Tiger’s lead was cut to two.
It was all too real to be true. But it actually happened right in front of us.
The fairways were littered with superlatives and loving words from fans who lined the tee box and fairways, 10 to 15 deep. A woman shouted, “It’s time for you!” “You can do it, Tiger,” shouted a man. The crowd around the green erupted when Tiger birdied hole 13. The crowd erupted in cheers at the Grey Goose 19th Hole and other hospitality tents when the TV delayed the putt.
As Woods neared victory, the crowd increased. Dads put daughters on the shoulders of their fans to get a better view. Fans climbed trees. As if at a revival, they chanted “U.S.A.” and “Tiger, Tiger” spontaneously.
Woods was reminded of his rookie season in 1997, when he came down the final hole at the Western Open, in Chicago.
Woods stated during his press conference that “that was a bit like it, but not at this fevered pitch.”
Woods was beaming with joy as he stood on the 18 th green following the trophy presentation. NBC’s Dan Hicks asked a group of writers, “Have you ever seen a scene like this?”
Who would have thought that Tiger’s performance eight months later in Augusta was only an appetizer?
