The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Woods under pressure

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 12, 2004

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Sport - Golf

Woods under pressure

HAVEN (WISCONSIN), AUG. 11. Tiger Woods stared down the fairway on the 569-yard 16th hole at Whistling Straits, with Lake Michigan looming large on the left. He looked over his shoulder at Ernie Els, who was 20 yards behind him and waiting for the green to clear on the par-three 12th hole, which hugs the right side of the lake.

It was a fitting scene on Tuesday morning at the PGA Championship.

Woods and Els — No. 1 and 2 in the world — were standing on the same tee box, headed in opposite directions.

The majors used to be Woods's private domain. He won seven out of 11 through the 2002 U.S. Open to build such a huge lead that it looked like he would never lose his No. 1 ranking.

Woods comes into the PGA Championship having gone nine consecutive majors without winning, and he could lose his No. 1 ranking for the first time in five years.

"It's never easy to win a major championship," Woods said. "I think all of you guys realise that now."

At the other end of the spectrum is Els, who has finished in the top 10 in his last four majors and was on the cusp of winning the first three this year. He arrived at Whistling Straits with his third chance at a major this year to replace Woods at No. 1, needing at least a runner-up finish at the PGA.

"I've got to try and play as well as I can and take care of this week and see what happens after that," Els said. "But it will be great."

Woods hammered his drive down the right side of the 16th fairway. Els hit a crisp 7-iron just over a knobby bunker to within 15 feet of the pin at No. 12.

Then, they walked to the back of the tee to shake hands and get down to business. — AP

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