Tiger Woods’ checklist of accomplishments in his extraordinary profession is an extended one.
The golf legend has gained all of it in seemingly each occasion and method. But one bullet level on Woods’ prolonged résumé stands out: his traditionally dominant efficiency on the 2000 U.S. Open.
Heading into the match, it had been three a long time for the reason that occasion was determined by greater than 3 strokes. It hadn’t been determined by double-digit strokes for the reason that nineteenth century.
At Pebble Seaside in California, Woods gained by 15 strokes, a record-shattering margin that no has come near matching in any main.
On this date in 2000, Tiger Woods wins the a centesimal U.S. Open by 15 strokes, the most important margin of victory in any main championship.
The one gamers apart from Woods to win a serious by 10 or extra pictures did so earlier than the flip of the twentieth century. pic.twitter.com/3iKGE90hT0
— ESPN Stats & Data (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 18, 2020
This is a glance again at among the highlights from Woods’ 2000 grasp class.
Setting the tone
Woods being in glorious type at Pebble Seaside was removed from a shock — he was within the midst of what would grow to be some of the outstanding stretches of his profession. Having simply posted a 5-stroke victory on the Memorial Event in late Might, Woods wasted no time in transferring in entrance of the pack on the U.S. Open.
He shot 6-under within the first spherical, good for first. Although Woods led the sector, his first-round margins weren’t indicative of the historic tempo he would attain. Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain trailed by simply 1 stroke on the spherical’s conclusion, with John Huston 2 strokes again.
Very good placing pushes him forward
Although Woods was distinctive in nearly each side of the sport that June, his placing specifically wowed onlookers.
Regardless of subpar climate circumstances, Woods would one-putt on 20 of his first 38 greens. He did not three-putt as soon as throughout your entire U.S. Open. Spectators and rivals had no selection however to marvel at Woods’ precision.
“He had some Jedi powers; he may just about will the ball within the gap,” mentioned Jesper Parnevik, who performed with Woods. “And typically I may swear he did as a result of I might assume the ball was going to overlook or already had missed, and it could go in sideways. That is some strong-ass, Obi-Wan Kenobi/Jedi stuff occurring.”
Completely satisfied birthday to @TigerWoods! In June we’ll be returning to the positioning of the primary of his three #USOpen victories. In 2000, the report books had been something however secure at Pebble Seaside. pic.twitter.com/vOFqPzQwZf
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) December 30, 2018
A lone third-round blemish
As if to steer these round him that he was not supplementing his efficiency with earth-bending thoughts management powers, Woods did wrestle on one gap within the third spherical.
His triple bogey on the spherical’s third gap added a 7 to an in any other case exemplary scorecard. It marked the primary time within the Masters period {that a} participant gained a serious championship with a triple bogey on his card.
The final 2 golfers to win majors with a triple bogey on their playing cards:
– Keegan Bradley at 2011 PGA Championship
– Tiger Woods at 2000 U.S. Open https://t.co/LsVOR0Wm07— ESPN Stats & Data (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 26, 2020
Ultimate two rounds flip the competitors right into a rout
Regardless of his third spherical triple bogey, Woods managed to complete even stronger than he began at Pebble Seaside. He completed Spherical 2 with an already-sizable 6-stroke lead, however left Spherical 3 forward by a outstanding 10 strokes. His buffer on the finish of the third spherical was the most important 54-hole lead in U.S. Open historical past.
However even Woods’ stellar Spherical 3 paled compared to his ultimate spherical. He fired his manner by way of his final 18 holes, steadily dropping from 8-under par to 12-under. Woods grew to become the primary individual to complete the competitors beneath par by double digits, increasing his lead on the sector even additional as he powered his method to the ultimate inexperienced. As Woods gained velocity, these round him faltered — he was the one participant on the course to complete at par or higher.
Lifting the trophy and setting the stage for the long run
When Woods hoisted the U.S. Open championship trophy it was solely the start line in a run that will rank amongst among the sport’s biggest.
Woods’ U.S. Open victory was the primary accomplishment in a set of triumphs soon-to-be-dubbed the “Tiger Slam.” He adopted up his success at Pebble Seaside with wins at St. Andrews, Valhalla and Augusta over the following 12 months, finally making him the simultaneous holder of each males’s main championship — the primary golfer in trendy historical past to take action.