World No. 1 Tiger Woods openly admitted capturing a 15th Major Championship is now proving a tougher task than winning a 14 prior Majors.
It’s been more than five years since Woods defeated fellow American Rocco Mediate to capture the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines in California.
Of course, Woods captured his first Major in 1997 winning a first Masters by a remarkable 12 shots.
A full Oak Hill house on Tuesday watching Tiger Woods in action ahead of the 95th PGA Championship. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
He then captured further Masters titles in 2001, 2002 and 2005. He won the US Open in 2000, 2002 and then in 2008. Woods then tasted Open Championship succes in 2000, 2005 and 2006 while he captured a first PGA Championship in 1999 and again lifted the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy in 2000, 2006 and 2007.
“It kind of seems that winning a 15th Major is the toughest one to win,” he said.
“It’s been probably the longest spell that I’ve had since I hadn’t won a major championship. I came out here very early and got my first one back in ’97.
“I’ve had, certainly, my share of chances to win. I’ve had my opportunities there on the back nine on probably half of those Sundays for the last five years where I’ve had a chance, and just haven’t won it.
“But the key is to keep giving myself chances, and eventually I’ll start getting them.”
And while Woods heads into this year’s final Major a red-hot favourite to make it 15 Major Championship crowns he addressed the scenario highlighted yesterday by www.golfbytourmiss.com when fans nearly broke down a crash barrier trying to get Woods autograph.
There was again the same scenario this morning.
“Well, the fence almost came down so they knocked the fence down and it got very dangerous,” said Woods.
“We had a little girl get crushed today, and she was just lying on the ground crying. People get so aggressive for autographs. And security is trying to be aggressive to protect the little kids up front.
“You try and sign, but sometimes the adults start running over the little kids up front, and especially on a fence like that, on a hard fence, it can get dangerous sometimes.
“That was one of those situations where, yeah, it almost fell.”
