Tiger Woods has completed a historic performance at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP as he joined Sam Snead as joint leader with the most PGA TOUR victories.
Woods’ win at the the first TOUR event to be held in Japan was the 82nd victory of his storied career.
‘On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I would like to congratulate Tiger Woods for tying Sam Snead’s all-time PGA TOUR victories record of 82 at the inaugural ZOZO Championship,’ said PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan.
‘Today, we celebrate both Tiger and Sam Snead as they share a record that, given how difficult it is to win just once on the PGA TOUR, should sit squarely alongside the greatest accomplishments in sporting history. Tiger has inspired us throughout his career with his talent, passion and the ability to shine in big moments, and he continues to defy even the most outsized expectations with performances like we saw this week. Our fans certainly have a lot to look forward to in the coming season as Tiger sets his sights on win No 83 – and more, I would suspect – competing against many of the players he helped inspire along the way.’
Woods held off home favourite Hideki Matsuyama to win his first start of the season and first since having arthroscopic knee surgery in August. Woods has now won three of his past 14 starts.
Woods became the first person in the ShotLink era (since 2003) to win after making bogey on his first three holes. He birdied nine of his next 15 holes to shoot 64 and share the first-round lead with Gary Woodland. After Friday’s play was washed away by torrential rains, Woods shot a second consecutive 64 to take the halfway lead.
A third-round 66 gave Woods a three-shot lead after 54 holes. Woods has never lost when leading by three or more shots after 54 holes, winning all 25 times he’s been in that position. His 194 total was the third-lowest 54-hole score of his career.
Woods still had a three-shot lead when play was called off Sunday evening because of darkness. He had to complete seven holes Monday morning.
It was worth the wait as he closed out with a bogey and two birdies before the tributes poured in.
