Target World Challenge

Davis Love III had a seven-shot lead that looked unbeatable until a couple of par putts lipped out and turned everything around. "I felt like I was letting someone back into the tournament," Love said yesterday. "I just didn't know who it was. " He should have known. Tiger Woods, 10 shots behind with 10 holes to play, unleashed six birdies in seven holes to cut the lead to one and make the rain that dripped off Love's cap feel more like sweat. Love pulled himself together with a 45-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, and finished with a two-shot victory in the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Tiger Woods holed two long birdie putts on consecutive holes on his way to a 4-under-par 68 that turned a four-shot deficit into a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif. "Two lucky breaks," said Woods, who was at 8-under 136 going into the weekend of the final tournament of the year. Stenson had four birdies and one good hop that set up an eagle, but two holes dropped him to a 71 that left him at 7-under. U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (70)

Tiger Woods wrapped up a remarkable season yesterday at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., seizing the lead from U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy in just three holes and coasting to a 6-under 66 for a four-shot victory in the last tournament of the year. He started the year with a playoff victory in the Buick Invitational and ended it by beating an elite, 16-man field to win his tournament for the third time in its 8-year history. Between those bookend trophies was a mixture of triumph and tragedy.

Tiger Woods won the final golf tournament of the year yesterday, closing with a 4-under 68 to match the tournament record at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and set a record for the largest margin of victory, by seven shots over Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods had not played since Sept. 30 at the Presidents Cup, but he didn't show much rust in winning his tournament for the fourth time and becoming the first player to win in consecutive years. "Doesn't help us, does it?"

Tiger Woods joined some elite company yesterday in his PGA Tour season debut, even though he might as well have been playing alone. He thrilled the four-deep gallery with an improbable flop shot from the muck of trampled grass behind the ninth green to save par. He sent Torrey Pines into delirium with a 60-foot birdie putt that started in one direction and slid into the cup from the other. He made three straight bogeys on the back nine, a rarity for him when he's in the lead.

Tiger Woods made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole yesterday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot, extending his PGA Tour winning streak to five and keeping intact a perfect season in golf. In his biggest challenge since this streak began 7 months ago, Woods outlasted 45-year-old Bart Bryant and won with a birdie putt on the final hole for the first time in 7 years. He turned and slammed his cap to the ground, letting out a roar to celebrate his 64th career victory, tying Ben Hogan at No. 3 on the PGA Tour list.

Colin Montgomerie walked off the 18th green in a tie for the lead with Tiger Woods at the Target World Challenge, and someone told him the tournament was in his hands. Montgomerie, of all people, knows better. "It's in Tiger's hands," he said with a smile. Seven years after they were first paired together in the final group going into the weekend, Woods and Montgomerie established themselves as the front-runners yesterday at Thousand Oaks, Calif., with stretches of great play and minimal mistakes to each shoot 5-under 66. Montgomerie birdied five of his first seven holes, then had to scramble for a bogey on the 18th hole to salvage a share of the lead at Sherwood Country Club.

Tiger Woods shot a 5-under 67 yesterday to widen his lead to 6 strokes ahead of Jim Furyk in the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Woods enters the final round at 18-under 198. Masters champion Zach Johnson only had three birdies, with his 69 leaving him 7 shots behind. Robert Allenby and fellow Australian James Nitties shot 3-under 69s and shared the third-round lead at the Australian Open in Sydney. Baseball Fulfilling one of their major off-season goals, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with Japanese free-agent righthander Hiroki Kuroda, 32, on a three-year, $35.2 million contract.

Tiger Woods won the final golf tournament of the year yesterday, closing with a 4-under 68 to match the tournament record at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He also set a record for the largest margin of victory, by 7 shots over Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods had not played since Sept. 30 at the Presidents Cup, but he didn't show much rust in winning his tournament for the fourth time at Sherwood Country Club and becoming the first player to win in consecutive years.

If the buzz this week at the Mercedes Championships means a thing, brace for one heck of a showdown this year in golf. Word is, Tiger Woods is back. Back as in the Tiger of old, dare we ask, the Tiger of 2000? "I don't think so," Woods said yesterday, toying with reporters on the eve of the season's first event, the Mercedes Championships. The elite-field event featuring tournament winners from last year will be played at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course. "Honestly, I think I can be better," added Woods, 29, showing a hint of his old confidence as he begins his 10th year on the tour.

Tiger Woods made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole yesterday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot, extending his PGA Tour winning streak to five and keeping intact a perfect season in golf. In his biggest challenge since this streak began 7 months ago, Woods outlasted 45-year-old Bart Bryant and won with a birdie putt on the final hole for the first time in 7 years. He turned and slammed his cap to the ground, letting out a roar to celebrate his 64th career victory, tying Ben Hogan at No. 3 on the PGA Tour list.

Tiger Woods joined some elite company yesterday in his PGA Tour season debut, even though he might as well have been playing alone. He thrilled the four-deep gallery with an improbable flop shot from the muck of trampled grass behind the ninth green to save par. He sent Torrey Pines into delirium with a 60-foot birdie putt that started in one direction and slid into the cup from the other. He made three straight bogeys on the back nine, a rarity for him when he's in the lead.

Tiger Woods won the final golf tournament of the year yesterday, closing with a 4-under 68 to match the tournament record at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and set a record for the largest margin of victory, by seven shots over Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods had not played since Sept. 30 at the Presidents Cup, but he didn't show much rust in winning his tournament for the fourth time and becoming the first player to win in consecutive years. "Doesn't help us, does it?"

Tiger Woods won the final golf tournament of the year yesterday, closing with a 4-under 68 to match the tournament record at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He also set a record for the largest margin of victory, by 7 shots over Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods had not played since Sept. 30 at the Presidents Cup, but he didn't show much rust in winning his tournament for the fourth time at Sherwood Country Club and becoming the first player to win in consecutive years.

Tiger Woods shot a 5-under 67 yesterday to widen his lead to 6 strokes ahead of Jim Furyk in the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Woods enters the final round at 18-under 198. Masters champion Zach Johnson only had three birdies, with his 69 leaving him 7 shots behind. Robert Allenby and fellow Australian James Nitties shot 3-under 69s and shared the third-round lead at the Australian Open in Sydney. Baseball Fulfilling one of their major off-season goals, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with Japanese free-agent righthander Hiroki Kuroda, 32, on a three-year, $35.2 million contract.

Tiger Woods wrapped up a remarkable season yesterday at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., seizing the lead from U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy in just three holes and coasting to a 6-under 66 for a four-shot victory in the last tournament of the year. He started the year with a playoff victory in the Buick Invitational and ended it by beating an elite, 16-man field to win his tournament for the third time in its 8-year history. Between those bookend trophies was a mixture of triumph and tragedy.

Tiger Woods holed two long birdie putts on consecutive holes on his way to a 4-under-par 68 that turned a four-shot deficit into a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif. "Two lucky breaks," said Woods, who was at 8-under 136 going into the weekend of the final tournament of the year. Stenson had four birdies and one good hop that set up an eagle, but two holes dropped him to a 71 that left him at 7-under. U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (70)

Although it had been known for months that Earl Woods was losing his battle against cancer, it was a hurried cross-country trip home by Tiger Woods to his father's bedside that signaled the end was near. "Just trying to make him understand that I love him dearly and just want him to hang in there and keep fighting, which he always does," said Tiger Woods, appearing misty-eyed during the Players Championship in late March, after his 24-hour trip from Florida to California. When Mr. Woods succumbed yesterday at the age of 74, at the tract home in Cypress, Calif.

If the buzz this week at the Mercedes Championships means a thing, brace for one heck of a showdown this year in golf. Word is, Tiger Woods is back. Back as in the Tiger of old, dare we ask, the Tiger of 2000? "I don't think so," Woods said yesterday, toying with reporters on the eve of the season's first event, the Mercedes Championships. The elite-field event featuring tournament winners from last year will be played at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course. "Honestly, I think I can be better," added Woods, 29, showing a hint of his old confidence as he begins his 10th year on the tour.

Colin Montgomerie walked off the 18th green in a tie for the lead with Tiger Woods at the Target World Challenge, and someone told him the tournament was in his hands. Montgomerie, of all people, knows better. "It's in Tiger's hands," he said with a smile. Seven years after they were first paired together in the final group going into the weekend, Woods and Montgomerie established themselves as the front-runners yesterday at Thousand Oaks, Calif., with stretches of great play and minimal mistakes to each shoot 5-under 66. Montgomerie birdied five of his first seven holes, then had to scramble for a bogey on the 18th hole to salvage a share of the lead at Sherwood Country Club.