‘Electric’ finale excites Tiger

TIGER WOODS is back as golf’s world number one and, just like Vijay Singh last September, he did it in style with a victory over his main rivals.

Singh’s six-month reign began when he beat Woods by a shot in Boston. Now the 29-year-old American, who had been top for five years before, has regained the position by pipping Phil Mickelson for the Ford Championship in Miami. Singh was third.

The issue was decided only when Mickelson, winner of his two previous stroke play tournaments, narrowly failed to chip in on the last.

After a closing 66 against overnight leader Mickelson’s 69 Woods said: “What a day. You know, to go head-to-head against Phil like that and just to play that well.

“We both played well - it’s not like we went out there and slopped it around and shot 73s and 74s. We both played really good golf.

“It was just one of those things where we were just trying to make some birdies and just trying to keep the ball in play, hit the ball on the green and make putts and we were both doing it. And on that back nine it was something - a lot of fun.

“I started it one down, three holes later I’m two up, two holes later we’re even. It was just a great turn of holes. Phil answered my eagle with back-to-back birdies, which was just huge for him and hit quality shots and make quality putts.

“After he made those birdies, it was just who was going to flinch first.

“Phil’s chip on 18, from where I was looking, that thing was just centre cut. It was high, looked like it was going to break right in the hole and it must have just gone across the face of the hole. It looked like it had perfect speed and was going down there like a putt.

“It was tense from start to finish. There’s no doubt about it - we were both excited. I can’t speak for Phil, but I certainly was nervous out there. If you’re not on a day like this, you’re not alive.

“The ranking will take care of itself with wins. I said that from the very beginning. That’s how I got there. That’s how Vijay got there. It’s just nothing but winning golf tournaments and so far I’ve gotten two this year, which is a nice start.

“It was electric. You could hear Phil’s fans, you could hear Tiger fans and they were both yelling at the top of their lungs.

“I told Stevie (caddie Steve Williams) ’I can’t hear you.’ When we got to the tee box my ears were ringing. They are screaming from two feet away from you, screaming right in your ear.”

Mickelson commented: “It was a fun day, but I’m just a little ticked at myself for not getting it done. The chip was right in the heart. It was tracking with three or four feet to go. It looked like it was going right in the middle, so it’s a little frustrating. I knew I was playing well enough to win.

“I feel like I believe should I have won, certainly could have won and I just hope that I have another shot soon.