Tiger Woods again reminded the golf world of his overwhelming desire and it’s not just a strong finish in his first appearance in the Wyndham Championship.
As the late, great Ayrton Senna remarked: “I am not designed to come second or third, I am desgined to win!”
It is very much the same sentiment Wood expressed when asked if he would be satisfied, given all he has endured this year, without capturing victory on the Sedgefield Country Club course.
“Everyone who knows me that I would not be satisfied with nothing but a win tomorrow,” he said.
Tige Woods on route to a two under par 68 and two off the lead heading to the final round of the Wyndham Championship. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“I am only two back right now and need to go out there and make a run, and get myself up there making some birdies.
“And there is a bunch of guys, not just Jonas and myself just within a few shots of the lead at 11 and 10 under, so anyone can make a run like we saw today from Jason and Jonas did and put themselves up there.”
However a last hole bogey took some of the gloss from Woods hope of a first victory in two years in a round of a two-under par 68 to end with a share of second place at 13-under par.
Woods got off to a good start with birdie, and while he also birdied the fifth, he was then left in the slow lane with 10 straight pars before draining a 12-footer for birdie on 16 but giving back the shot at the last with a three-putt bogey.
Fellow American Jason Gore, chasing just a second Tour win and eight years after a first, birdied four of his closing seven holes in a blistering eight-under par 62 to lead the $US 5.4m event at 15-under par.
US-based Swede Jonas Blixt, who also shot a 62, and American Scott Brown (66) share second place with Woods.
But while Woods is desperate for success unless he becomes just one of seven first-time winners since 1938, or at worst finish second on his own, then his season will come to an end and he will miss out on Thursday’s start to the lucrative FedEx Cup Play-Off Series in New Jersey.
Woods went into the third round sharing the lead but with a round to play, and in what could be his last event of the 2014/15 wraparound PGA Tour schedule, Woods will need all his prowess to capture an 80th Tour title.
Among the Wyndham first-time winners is legendary Sam Snead who won the first of eight Greensboro titles in 1938, and who’s all-time Tour winning record of 82 victories Woods is also chasing.
On Woods side is a record of being 37-10 in claiming success when leading or sharing the lead after 36 holes.
