Farmers Insurance Open: Tiger Woods looking for a record ninth win at Torrey Pines
Thursday 5 February 2015 20:27, UK
Tiger Woods can secure a record breaking ninth PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines with victory at this week's Farmers Insurance Open.
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The 14-time major champion dropped out of the world’s top 50 after a shocking second round 82 saw him miss the cut at last week’s Phoenix Open, but returns to the venue where he has won eight of his 79 PGA Tour titles.
A 'home' venue for Tiger in Calfornia, Torrey Pines is the course where Woods has won a record seven Farmers Insurance Open (formerly known as Buick Invitational Open) titles, as well as where he lifted his last major title.
How has Tiger become the star of San Diego? We look back at his remarkable record...
1999 (Buick Invitational)
Woods collected the first of his nine PGA Tour titles in 1999 with a two-shot victory win ahead of Billy Ray Brown.
The world No 1 began the weekend nine strokes off the pace, but carded a third round 62 to move back in to the mix.
A birdie-filled start to the final round extended Woods’ advantage, as a seven-under 65 saw him finish 22-under for the tournament and claim over £300,000 in prize money.
2003 (Buick Invitational)
Woods made an impressive start to the year with a four-stroke victory in San Diego.
Despite making his first competitive appearance for two months, the world No 1 carded a six-under second round 66 to remain within two shots of the lead.
A four-under-par third round moved Woods ahead in a strong field, before another 68 on the final day left him comfortably clear of Sweden’s Carl Pettersson.
2005 (Buick Invitational)
As those around him faltered, Woods produced the goods on the final day to overcome a two-shot deficit and secure a three-shot victory.
Tom Lehman’s opening round 62 made him the early leader, while Woods bounced back with a nine-under 63 the following day, although his chances appeared in doubt after only managing a level-par third round.
But with the rest of the top five failing to register a final round under-par score, Woods’ four-under 68 proved to be enough for victory, as Lehman, Luke Donald and Charles Howell III tied for second.
2006 (Buick Invitational)
It needed a three-way play-off to split a congested field at Torrey Pines, where there was an eight-way tie for the lead with just six holes remaining.
Sitting joint top of the leaderboard heading in to the final round, both Woods and Nathan Green could only card final day pars, with Jose Maria Olazabal’s three-under 69 seeing him join the pair on ten-under for the tournament.
Green dropped out of the play-off at the first hole, while Olazabal’s missed putt from four-feet on the second sudden-death hole allowed Woods to retain his title.
2007 (Buick Invitational)
Woods completed a hat-trick of consecutive titles in San Diego and his seventh PGA Tour win in a row with a two-shot victory.
The world No 1 had been seven shots adrift at the halfway stage, but a three-under third round 69 moved him within two shots of leaders Andrew Buckle and Brandt Snedeker.
Snedeker fired an 11-under 61 in the opening round but ended three shots behind Woods, who secured victory ahead of Charles Howell III with a four-under 68.
2008 (Buick Invitational)
By far the most convincing of his victories at Torrey Pines, Woods blitzed through the field to cruise to an eight-shot win and move level with Arnold Palmer on 62 PGA Tour titles.
The world No 1 was 11 shots clear at one stage before drifting off on the back nine, with a one-under final round 71 enough to finish comfortably ahead of Japan’s Ryuji Imada.
2008 US Open
In arguably one of the most dramatic tournament finishes of all-time, Woods claimed the last of his 14 major titles with a sudden-death play-off win over Rocco Mediate.
Playing for the first time in over two months after initial surgery on his knee, Woods battled through the pain to go into the final day one shot clear of Lee Westwood.
Woods opened his final round with a double-bogey and needed a 12-foot birdie putt on the last to take the tournament into a fifth day.
After a further 18 holes couldn’t separate him and Mediate, the world No 1 carded par on the 91st hole as his compatriot could only bogey, giving Woods his third US Open title.
Torrey Pines would be the last time Woods featured in 2008, as reconstructive ACL surgery on his troublesome left knee ruled him out of action until the New Year.
2013 Farmers Insurance Open
A week on from missing the cut in Abu Dhabi, Woods bounced back with a four-shot victory in California to secure his seventh Phoenix Open crown.
Heading in to day two three shots off the lead, Woods shot four birdies and an eagle from the first 11 holes during a second round seven-under 65, putting him two clear.
Heavy fog saw the third day delayed and took the tournament into Monday, where Woods safety negotiated his final round in par to finish ahead of Brandt Snedeker and Josh Teater.
Can Tiger secure a landmark ninth Torrey Pines title? Watch the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Thursday from 8pm live on Sky Sports 4 – your home of golf.
