Woods juggernaut rolls on and on

DUBAI: That's two wins out of two starts in 2008 for Tiger Woods and the odds are shortening all the time for him to win his fifth Masters at Augusta in early April.

If last week's eight-stroke win in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, California, was relatively carefree, Woods showed again at the Dubai Desert Classic just how formidable a competitor he is when the chips are down.

The problem, he revealed after his come-from-behind win in the Gulf emirate, was that he cracked the face of his favorite driver with his first shot in Wednesday's Pro-Am.

"I broke my driver and had to use my backup which I don't like very much," he said. "I spun it too much, It was fine on Thursday because the wind didn't blow, but as soon as the wind started blowing, I had a hard time controlling the driver because it kept spinning too much.

"I was on the periphery most of the day and somehow got into it late in the back nine."

The world No 1 started the final round in Dubai four strokes adrift of leader Ernie Els and looked well out of it as he reached the turn still well down the field.

But a chip-in at the 12th hole proved to be the spark he needed and with the bit firmly between his teeth, the American let loose with a sequence of power drives and deft putts that saw him come home in 6-under 31.

To cap it all a 25-footer for birdie at the last had Woods celebrating with a trademark hook-punch in the air that ellicited the biggest cheer of the week.

It quite clearly sent a message to those who believe that Woods is only at his best when he has his nose in front. "I don't know about messages. I'm just happy about winning two tournaments," he said.

The win also cements his position in the bustling Gulf region, which he has chosen as the venue for his first foray into golf course design and he has already indicated that he will return to the region next year to defend his title.

Meanwhile, Woods' current schedule sees him down to play in the WGC Matchplay tournament in Arizona in a month's time and at the WGC Championships at Doral, Florida in March before heading for Augusta and the Masters.

Four tournament wins in a row and seven out of the last eight dating back to the tail-end of last year, the Woods juggernaut rolls on, and for the moment there is no telling where it will stop.

AFP

(China Daily 02/05/2008 page22)