RECAP: Tiger Woods Finishes Just Short At Valspar Championship But Who Really Cares? He’s So Back!
- Updated: March 11, 2018
The Low Down
Tiger Woods put up a valiant effort at the Valspar Championship on Sunday but came up one shot short of winner Paul Casey. Woods gave himself a look at birdie on the 72nd hole to tie, but it wasn’t meant to be.
The runner-up finish is Woods’ best result on the PGA Tour in nearly 5 years where he posted T2 at the 2013 Barclays.
Dear lord
After going out in even par on the front side, Woods gave himself birdie looks but couldn’t convert most notably on the par-5 14th where he failed to make 4 after getting to the green in 2.
But just like old times, Woods rekindled some Sunday Red magic when he poured in a 44-footer for a timely deuce on the par-3 17th to cut the lead to one.
TIGER WOODS!!!!!
1. Shot. Back. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/EzmFJvu0sN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018
However, on the difficult 18th hole, Tiger had to hole a 39-footer for birdie to get him to -10 which would’ve tied Casey in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, he left it short.
“I think that I’ve gotten a little bit better than I was a couple weeks ago at Honda, keep getting a little bit better and sharper and today wasn’t quite as sharp as I would like to have had it but I had a good shot as winning this golf tournament. Couple putts here and there would have been a different story” – Tiger Woods
As for Casey, this was his first PGA Tour win since 2009 at the Houston Open, a crazy long drought for somebody who’s recorded 22 top-5 finishes during that span. The 40-year-old Englishman, who started the day 5 shots back, needed just 21 putts en route to a tidy 6-under 65 for the victory.
Paul Casey is the man to beat.
Will he claim his 2nd PGA TOUR title? pic.twitter.com/9JquwZPVCS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018
Related: Tiger Orders Extra Guac At Local Mexican Restaurant…Is He A Lock To Win The Masters?
What does A Real Professional Think Of Tiger’s Game?
2002 Players Champion Craig Perks shared his thoughts exclusively with Two Inches Short (T.I.S.) on what he saw from Tiger at the Valspar. After all, he’s played with TW before:
What I am surprised by, is the fact that I’m not at all surprised. He swinging it 129 mph! I thought the short game was going to be a huge liability and now he’s holing out miraculous chips. He hasn’t lost the ability to will things to happen … making a 40’ putt on the 71st hole just to keep the hope alive. Where’s the cape?
Just a year ago I didn’t know if he’d ever play again, now it seems in the realm of possibility that he’ll eclipse Sam Snead’s record … how is that even possible?
The biggest question is from where is he drawing the motivation? Or is it simply, he is finally healthy and has regained some of the joy of competing he had early in his career?
As soon as his confidence is fully restored, maybe he will be the Tiger we admired through the dominant years.
http://gty.im/85928247
What Does It All Mean?
When you looked at the Valspar Championship on the calendar before the start of the season, never in a bazillion years did you think Tiger Woods would have a putt to tie the lead on the 72nd hole, let alone be in the field … but it happened. While holing it would’ve been bananas, the big takeaway is that the 14-time major winner is not only back, he’s – dare we say – better than before?
His swing speed topped out at 129mph, the fastest on the PGA Tour this season (#fused). His touch around the greens looked as deft as it was in 2005. His stingers were breathtaking and the club twirls were flowing. Plus it’s good to see his Scotty Cameron putter that he used to win THIRTEEN majors is back in the bag! Yes, he’s got to clean up a few things, but as he says, it’s all part of the “process.”
129.2 MPH club head speed on this drive. ????
Fastest swing recorded on TOUR this season. ???? pic.twitter.com/y6OtNsEsAk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018
WOW!
Tiger Woods chips in for birdie on No. 9 and is tied for the lead. ????#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/89gO6mYJTo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2018
Fresh off his T12 finish at the Honda and right into T2 at Valspar with Bay Hill next week – a place where he’s won EIGHT times – and the Masters right around the corner, you got to think that as long as he stays healthy, there’s no reason why he won’t win again.
And probably soon…
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