At 4:49 p.m. Saturday, Tiger Woods took the lead in the PGA Championship. History says the tournament is over.
Woods doesn’t lose when he goes into the final round of a major leading or tied for the top spot. He is a perfect 11-for-11, a dead-on sure thing.
There has never been an exception to the rule, though there’s always a first for everything. Right, Luke Donald?
Donald will have his chance to alter history Sunday. After shooting 66 in the third round Saturday at Medinah and moving to 14 under par, the former Northwestern star earned a Sunday date in the final pairing with the world’s No. 1 player, who matched the course record with a 65.
“I’ve got to just go out there and play my own game and not watch Tiger,” Donald said.
Good luck. Here’s why Woods looks to be a lock Sunday.
The intimidation factor: Players wilt when paired with Woods on the final day. It almost seems to be sensory overload, dealing with the huge galleries, not to mention trying to go head to head with Woods.
In Woods’ last two victories, his fourth-round playing partners shriveled. Sergio Garcia shot 73 in the British Open and Lucas Glover 72 in the Buick Open. The litany of partners’ damaged psyches, not to mention scorecards, has become a part of Woods’ growing legend.
Considering Donald has never been in this position in a major, he has a good chance to become Woods’ next victim.
Woods doesn’t make mistakes: If you’re counting on Woods to beat himself in a major with the lead, forget it. His formula is steady golf, avoiding bogeys and taking advantage of birdie opportunities when they come. Why do it any differently when the other players collapse around him?
Confidence: Woods knows he knows how to seal the deal. He thrives on it.
“I enjoy being in that position,” Woods said. “It’s fun.”
Peak performance: Woods is hot, playing perhaps his best golf since 1999 and 2000, when he won 17 times. In his last three outings, he has a second at the Western Open and two straight victories.
Woods was asked Saturday if he thought he would be in this position after missing the cut at the U.S. Open. Yes, he said.
“If you enter a tournament,” he said, “your goal is to win.”
Woods is winning with a flourish these days. Unless history is derailed, figure him to make it 12-for-12.
