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Woods continues his reign

POIPU BEACH Nov. 28 Tiger Woods continued his dominance at the PGA Grand Slam of golf, winning the tournament for the fifth straight time with a tournament-record 11-under 61.

Woods finished with at a record 17 under par 127 to win by 14 strokes over Justin Leonard and Davis Love III. Wednesday's score also broke the tournament and course record at the 6373-meter (7,081-yard) ocean side Poipu Bay Golf Course on Kauai.

``I was surprised at a couple shots I hit out there,'' Woods said. ``I really couldn't mis-hit a shot today. Every shot I hit was right in the middle of the face.''

Woods matched his personal best for an 18-hole tournament round with the 61, and broke his own tournament mark of 12-under 132, set last year in his three-stroke victory over David Toms.

``I was making shots, aiming at my shots and I was knocking down my putts,'' he said. ``It's a lot of fun when everything works like that.''

Love shot a 69, and Leonard closed with a 72. PGA champion Rich Beem finished last at 1-over 145 after a 73.

``What a phenomenal round Tiger played, and it was a lot of fun watching him,'' Beem said. ``It's amazing how when somebody gets on a roll like he got on today, how fun it is to watch somebody, because everything clicks. The golf ball was just going right at the target all day.''

With Woods winning two majors and British Open champion Ernie Els skipping the event to play in South Africa, Love and Leonard gained invitations based on their performances in the majors.

In muggy conditions with a light drizzle, Woods made it easy for himself by getting off to a fast start for the second straight day and shooting another bogey-free round.

He birdied six of the first eight holes, putting the event out of reach for his opponents. Woods made the turn at 30, with an eight-stroke lead over Leonard.

He pulled away on the back nine by birdying Nos. 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18. He also lipped a couple other birdie putts.

``I needed to go out there and play a good, solid front nine and I just got on a roll,'' Woods said. ``It just kept going.''

On his birdie on the 346-meter (384-yard) No. 13, he used a 9-iron and hit a 122-meter (136-yard) approach shot than landed 30 centimeters (a foot) from the cup.

``That shot was ridiculously so good, you can't believe it,'' Beem said. . — AP

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