Tiger back to his best

US PGA 2006 - Round Four

Beyoncé may have been absent but there was a definitely a sense of déjà vu around the Medinah Country Club overnight, as Tiger Woods once again blew away the field on Sunday, securing the 88th US PGA Championship by five strokes from fellow American Shaun Micheel.

Just three months after he missed the cut for the first time in a major, Woods was back to his dominating best, clinically dissecting the Chicago course with pinpoint iron play and immaculate putting, on the way to capturing his second major in succession and 12th overall.

He finished at 18-under-par 270 after a routine final round 68, which was more than enough for a comfortable victory over distant runner-up Micheel (69) at 13-under 275.

Australian Adam Scott improved on his best-ever performance in a major with an impressive 67 to sit equal third at 12-under-par 276, alongside Sergio Garcia (70) and Woods’ playing partner, Luke Donald (74). Scott carded the low round of the day courtesy of a stunning 31 on the front nine and only two late bogeys prevented an even higher finish.

Hopes of a charge from compatriot Geoff Ogilvy faded early, as he dropped three shots by the third hole, before limping in with a disappointing 74 for a share of ninth place at nine-under 279.

Afterwards, the US Open champion was effusive in his praise of the world number one, comparing Tiger to another dominant sporting figure.

"He just doesn't have a bad day on Sunday in a major. A lot of guys do. He doesn't," Ogilvy said.

"He's better than us. He's like Roger Federer in tennis. Every now and then a guy will beat him, but not when he's at his best."

And Woods has been at the top of his game quite regularly in the past six weeks, winning his last three PGA starts, including the British Open at Royal Liverpool and the Buick Invitational- his 50th victory on the US Tour.

While Tiger has won his 12 major titles in a number of ways, this weekend was a throwback to the magical year of 2000, when he completely overshadowed the competition and consistently eclipsed the opposition by sizeable margins.

It was a level of play many thought Woods would never again reach, but from the moment he posted an opening hole birdie on Sunday, that familiar air of inevitability crept over the course and you just knew everyone else was playing for second.

He picked up three more birdies on the front nine to reach his own US PGA record score of 18-under, before turning on the cruise control to ensure he collected his third Wanamaker Trophy without a challenger in sight.

At just 30 years old, Woods is ahead of schedule as he chases Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships. Nicklaus was 33 when he won his 12th title at the 1973 US PGA, demonstrating that Tiger still has plenty of time of seize golf’s holy grail, particularly if he maintains his current pace.

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