Tiger clawed out win

Bob Cloud

Monday, Oct. 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Tiger Woods knew he had a tough mountain to climb Sunday. That's what made his accomplishment all the sweeter.

Playing in just his fifth professional event, Woods defeated Davis Love III in a one-hole playoff to capture the Las Vegas Invitational at the Tournament Players Club of Summerlin. The 20-year-old phenom started the day four shots off the lead and in a logjam of contending players, but shot himself into the extra session with an 8-under-par 64.

"Knowing that I hit the shots when I had to down the stretch and coming from behind to win is very satisfying," Woods said. "What really makes it great is how many players were between me and the lead at the start of the day. I knew I had to post a low score and I did."

In the playoff on No. 18, Woods placed a 3-wood tee shot slightly behind the drive of Love, then put the pressure on the veteran by stroking a 9-iron to 18 feet. Love found the back bunker with his 8-iron approach, then failed to get up and down after Woods had two-putted.

Woods downplayed the head-to-head aspect of the playoff, despite his reputation as a skilled match player with abilities honed by three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles.

"I wouldn't say I had any advantage because Davis was playing so well," he said. "I was fortunate to hit first and put some pressure on him. I think it did, because he came over that 8-iron a little bit."

Earlier, Woods got his day started with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 1, then excited his large and vocal gallery by knocking home a 16-footer for eagle on No. 3. That put him 22-under and quickly into contention.

After failing to capitalize on quality birdie chances on three of the next five holes, Woods drilled a 6-iron to within 14 feet and two-putted for birdie on No. 9, making the turn at 23-under.

Following a miss on another makeable birdie try on the 10th, the turning point of the round -- and the tournament -- came for Woods on No. 11.

After pushing his drive into a fairway bunker on the 448-yard par-4, he negotiated an awkward stance and skied a sand wedge to within 27 feet of the cup. He coolly dropped home the birdie to move within a shot of the lead.

"All I tried to do was pop it out and put it on the green," Woods said. "I think that shot, from the position I was in, really got me going. I started putting well after that and I really hit the ball well coming in."

A fired-up Woods birdied the par-5 13th to forge a tie with then-leader Kelly Gibson, then jumped into the lead at 26-under with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 14th. After a par on No. 15, he reached the par-5 16th in two and registered his third birdie in four holes to go 27-under.

Two pars coming in set the stage for the ensuing playoff drama with Love.

"I just know it's been an unbelievable experience, especially after starting with the 70 the first day," he said. "I knew this course suited my game the best."

Woods, who took heat from fellow competitors after dropping out of last week's Buick Challenge in Georgia at the last minute, said he could never have played up to his capabilities at the LVI if he'd have competed last week.

"It felt good to be rested and back to close to 100-percent ready to play," he said. "I couldn't have played last week. I was too worn out. I had to put the clubs up for a week and rest. It certainly did me good."

The victory, worth $297,000, completed an ascent for Woods which began with a tie for 60th place five weeks ago at the Greater Milwaukee Open. He finished 11th at the Canadien Open before tying for fifth at Quad City and third at the BC Open.

Woods, who has pocketed $437,194 in winnings, said it was the Quad City performance, one in which he stumbled down the stretch after leading heading into the final round, which set the stage for his triumph Sunday.

"I expect to win every tournament, or else there's no reason to show up," he said. "I learned a lot at Quad City when I kind of blew up down the last nine. I put a lot of what I learned to work for me today."