POIPU BEACH, Hawaii -- No one had more bogeys than Tiger Woods in the first round. No one had more birdies than him in the second.
The world’s best golfer turned a comeback into a stroll Wednesday with a 6-under 66 in the second and final round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, winning it for the seventh time in eight tries.
Tiger Woods had as many birdies Wednesday as the other three players combined.
Woods began the day in third place, three shots behind Jim Furyk, after making three bogeys in a 2-under 70 on Tuesday. He collected six birdies without a bogey on Wednesday and beat his Ryder Cup teammate by two shots at 8-under-par 136.
It was deja vu all over again for the spectators at Poipu Bay, where Woods has won seven straight appearances since finishing runner-up in his first in 1997.
‘I’ve had some of my best golf right here on this golf course,’ said Woods, who collected $500,000 for the win. ‘I’ve seen the same people over and over again, so it’s pretty cool.’
Furyk, the 2003 champion, had a 1-under 71 and took second place at 6-under 138 to claim $300,000. He was No. 1 on the major championship points list and made the field because Woods won the British Open and PGA Championship.
Geoff Ogilvy, a first-time Grand Slam winner at the U.S. Open, finished third at 2-under 142 following a disappointing 74. He made $250,000.
Mike Weir, who got in based on points after Masters champion Phil Mickelson declined, was a distant fourth place at 1-over 145. He also shot a 74 Wednesday and claimed $200,000.
As the players approached the turn, it looked like Furyk would carry a lead onto Poipu Bay’s back nine. But Woods chipped in from in front of the No. 9 green for an unexpected birdie -- his fourth on the front side -- to tie Furyk at 9 under.
The shot elicited a familiar fist-pump from the new co-leader.
‘I was just trying to get it close and get out of there with a four,’ said Woods, whose 32 was the lowest nine-hole score of the event.
At the par-4 10th, Furyk made his first bogey of the tournament when he missed a 7-foot par putt. Woods saved par with a 10-footer, and took the lead for good.
From that point, it was vintage Tiger-down-the-stretch highlights.
The only respite for the others came during a heavy downpour at the 13th, where they stalled on the fairway while their caddies shielded them from rain and winds gusting to 30 mph.
At the par-4 15th, Tiger eschewed his driver for an iron off the tee, much like he did throughout his dominating performance at the British Open.
Furyk used a driver and knocked his approach within 8 feet, then watched Woods roll in a 20-foot birdie putt to move to 7 under. Furyk stepped up to his birdie putt, took aim, and slid it past the left side of the hole.
It was a disheartening par, and a devastating two-shot swing: What should have been a tie ended, instead, with Woods leading by two shots.
Furyk went on the birdie the 18th, but so did Woods -- the end of his 10th title worldwide this year.
‘This season’s been pretty incredible,’ said Woods, before joking, ‘I won a few tournaments here and there, so it’s been nice.’
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