The Woods Method of Speed Golf: Hit One Shot, Win Tournament

CARLSBAD — The Tiger Woods bandwagon took on a different appearance Sunday in the season-opening Mercedes Championships, where it looked a lot more like a big canoe or something.

It took only one golf tournament to be reminded that no matter the weather, in sunshine or in showers, whether it’s hot enough to melt the sand in a bunker or cold enough for hail the size of golf balls, Woods sure looks like the new leader of the Swing Set.

He made it three victories in nine tournaments when he won again at waterlogged La Costa, defeating Tom Lehman in a one-hole sudden-death playoff after a downpour washed out the final round.

Yes, it’s good to be a 21-year-old multimillionaire who is a threat to win every time he takes a tee out of his pocket.

“It’s a perfect start,” said Woods, who got ready for his latest victory speech by falling asleep as he got his hair cut Saturday night.

As usual, Woods accomplished his victory with a certain hair-raising flair. He nearly aced the playoff hole, the par-three seventh, which was the only one that could be used, basically because the rest of the course was under water.

After Lehman dunked his tee shot into the lake to the left of the green, Woods swung a six-iron and sent the ball arcing toward the pin, 186 yards away. The ball dropped onto the green to the right of the hole, then rolled back and stopped eight inches away.

The first PGA Tour event of the year was all but over, except for the final accounting.

Call in the CPAs, because there’s a lot of ground to cover.

Woods becomes the third-youngest player to win three PGA Tour events, behind only Horton Smith and Gene Sarazen.

What’s more, by winning $216,000 Tiger’s career earnings reached $1,006,594. He becomes the 200th PGA Tour millionaire.

Woods’ arrival at the $1-million mark in nine events is the earliest ever. Ernie Els was the previous fastest, but it took him 28 PGA Tour events.

And so Woods began 1997 in much the same way he ended 1996, which would be by dominating. Last year, he had five top-10 finishes in eight events, two of them victories, which probably is why he said what he does is no surprise to him anymore.

“The only thing I set out to do is to win every tournament,” he said.

So far this year, he has done that, even if it was a little wet.

Play began at 9:20 a.m. in light drizzle and was suspended at 10:57 in persistent showers with the last six players still to tee off.

After two hours of more rain, the PGA Tour decided to wash out the last round, revert to the 54-hole scores and hold a two-way playoff between Woods and Lehman, who were tied at 14-under-par 202.

Paul Goydos began the day six shots behind the leaders and he said he wasn’t surprised that the tournament wound up being decided in a Lehman-Woods playoff and not carried over until today.

“TV probably wanted a finish today,” Goydos said. “Can’t blame them. You get Tiger on TV, you jump on it.

“Let’s face it. You want to watch me slogging around in dirty pants or Tiger? That’s an easy decision.”

Lehman made a decision that turned out wrong on the playoff hole. He said he probably teed the ball up too high, then struck the ball too close to the top of the face of his six-iron.

“The wind got it and away she went into the water,” Lehman said. “One swing all day. I was hoping for a good one and I didn’t get it.”

Lehman’s golf ball missed the green by 12 feet and landed in the water about 30 feet left of the hole.

If Lehman was surprised, so was Woods.

“I was shocked,” he said.

Woods might have been similarly startled to see his own tee shot on the playoff hole if a rain drop hadn’t caught him right in the eye after he swung. He knew anyway, though.

“I heard the crowd go wild,” he said after tapping in for the winning birdie.

It’s a sound heard round the course a lot these days.

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La Costa Leaders

Final 54-hole scores for the $1.2-million Mercedes Championships at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad. Tournament was shortened to 54 holes due to inclement weather Sunday. Par is 72:

x--Tiger Woods: 70-67-65--202

Tom Lehman: 66-67-69--202

Guy Boros: 69-68-70--207

Paul Goydos: 67-71-70--208

Fred Couples: 69-69-70--208

Steve Jones: 70-71-68--209

Davis Love III: 70-67-72--209

John Cook: 70-71-69--210

Corey Pavin: 70-68-72--210

Jim Furyk: 67-68-75--210

x--Won playoff on first extra hole with birdie

Tiger’s Tour Record

Tiger Woods’ record in nine PGA-sanctioned tournaments since turning pro:

*--*

Tournament Place Score Money Mercedes Open 1* 14-under 202 $216,000 The Tour Championship 21 8-over 288 $55,800 Disney World Classic 1 21-under 267 $216,000 Texas Open 3 11-under 277 $81,600 Las Vegas Invitational 1* 27-under 332 $297,000 B.C. Open 3 13-under 200 $58,000 Quad City Classic 5 8-under 272 $42,150 Canadian Open 11 8-under 208 $37,500 Greater Milwaukee Open 60 7-under 277 $2,544

*--*

*--Won sudden-death playoff: $1,006,594