Doral full of Tiger talk
Associated Press
Thursday, March 20, 2008

DORAL, Fla. --- There are 78 players at this World Golf Championship, and one guy playing out of this world.

Tiger Woods is winning at a rate not seen in more than a half-century. Bay Hill was his sixth consecutive victory around the world among official tournaments, and he is the three-time defending champion this week at the CA Championship.

"He inhales so many wins that there's not much breathing room for the rest of us," Stewart Cink said.

Even a player lined up to get his autograph Wednesday.

Boo Weekley stood behind the 18th green as Woods and Jim Furyk finished an abbreviated practice round at Doral in 30 mph wind. He was holding two flags: one from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which Woods won with a 25-foot birdie on the last hole, and one from the Accenture Match Play Championship, which Woods won by a record 8-and-7 margin in the final round.

It was for charity, although the scene spoke volumes.

There is a sense of awe among Woods' peers during a stretch of golf that rivals Byron Nelson's golden season of 1945, when he won 11 consecutive events and 18 out of 30.

"It's a great time to be playing," Adam Scott said. "It's awfully hard to beat him, but he doesn't play every week. I know he's winning all the time, but he doesn't win every week, either."

Then the 27-year-old Australian paused long enough that he couldn't contain a wry smile.

"There's no proof of that," Scott said. "But we'll try to change it this week."

The bookmakers don't like the other guys' chances on the Blue Monster at Doral. Woods was a 2-3 favorite on one Web site. Next in line is Phil Mickelson at 15-1.

There's a reason for that. Woods has won at Doral the past three years, the first two when it was a full-field PGA Tour event. He has won this World Golf Championship six of eight years, the first five when it was called the American Express Championship and played around the world. His two-shot victory last year made him the first player to win the same event on six golf courses.

PUERTO RICO OPEN: The rest of the PGA Tour is competing at Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

The highest-ranked golfer there is Jerry Kelly, No. 63 in the world. No. 62 Pat Perez was to play but was among several withdrawals that also included Chris DiMarco.

From the Thursday, March 20, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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