Tiger wins number 50

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 8/10/2006

I’m searching hard to come up with a word that best describes Tiger Woods. Remarkable? Incredible? Sensational? How about all of the above?

Two weeks ago, Woods successfully defended his British Open title, his 11th career Major title, tying for number two all-time with the legendary Walter Hagen for the most Majors won in the history of golf. Woods also became the first player to surpass $60 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour.

Sunday, at Warwick Hills in Michigan, Woods won his second consecutive tournament and his fourth this year by winning the Buick Open. Woods shot 66, which is six under par, four days in a row to win by three shots at 24 under par. Woods made history again by becoming the first player to win 50 career PGA Tournaments at age 30.

Let’s do the math: He’s 30 years old, has been a pro for 10 years, and has won 50 times. That’s an average of five wins every year.

Woods also took home the first-place check of $864,000; so far this year, he has won $5,127,563 and is number one on this year’s PGA tour money list. Woods is the only golfer in history to win at least $5 million on the PGA Tour eight years in a row.

Woods has played in only 11 tournaments this year, primarily because of the death of his father Earl in May, yet he has won four of them. In two weeks he will shoot for yet another Major title, the PGA Championship, which he has won twice in his career.

 Woods is 21 for 21 when leading a tournament by one shot after three rounds. He is the greatest closer in golf history. 

Woods has always had Jack Nicklaus in his sights and is closing in on the legend. This year, Woods tied Nicklaus’s career mark of 39 straight Major cuts made at the U.S. Open when he missed the cut. Nicklaus was 33 years old in 1973 when he won his 50th career PGA.

 On the PGA Tour all-time win list, this is what Woods has in front: number one is Sam Snead with 82 wins; number two, Nicklaus with 73; number three, Ben Hogan with 64; number four, Arnold Palmer with 62; number five, Byron Nelson with 52; and number six, Billy Casper with 51. Tiger is now number seven with 50.

  

Moon first Black Hall of Fame quarterback

 Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Warren Moon became the first Black quarterback in NFL history to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 5.

Moon was not drafted by the NFL, believe it or not. He started his career with Edmonton in the CFL and led the Eskimos to five consecutive Greg Cups.

 Moon played 17 years in the NFL with Houston, Minnesota, Seattle, and Kansas City. He accounted for 313 touchdowns passing and rushing, and for 51,061 yards of total offense.

  

Fitz Notes & Quotes

 The Vikings and new Head Coach Brad Childress play their first NFL preseason game next Monday night, August 14, against the Oakland Raiders. That means former Vikings great Randy Moss returns for the first time.