Tiger Woods has made many memorable birdies on the 72nd hole in his career: his first major victory at the 1997 Masters, the 2000 PGA Championship and ’08 U.S. Open to force playoffs, at Bay Hill to win in 2008 and 2009, among others.
The birdie Woods made Sunday at the final hole of the Chevron World Challenge may eventually rate as one of the most significant in his career.
Woods made an 8-foot putt to defeat Zach Johnson by a shot and capture his first worldwide win in two years.
In this case, it wasn’t just the last hole that was crucial. The 14-time major winner made a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-3 71st hole to pull even with Johnson, setting up the drama on the 72nd hole.
The last time Woods waltzed into the winner’s circle in the same fashion was at the 2009 Memorial. Woods birdied the last two holes at Muirfield Village to defeat Jim Furyk by a shot.
Furyk was the winner of the Chevron World Challenge in 2009, leading into a career year and the FedEx Cup in 2010. It was his first win in more than two years, as well.