Tiger Woods Does It Again Golf Prodigy Conquers Els In Playoff After Rallying From Eight Strokes Back

Never count Tiger Woods out of a golf tournament. Ever.

In his greatest comeback since he turned professional, Woods overcame an eight-stroke deficit Sunday to win the Johnnie Walker Classic, beating Ernie Els on the second hole of a playoff.

“I’ve never done anything like that as a professional,” said Woods, who once rallied from nine strokes behind on the final day to win a junior tournament. “It was pretty amazing.”

Woods, who had finished his regulation round two hours earlier, rushed through a quick warmup for the playoff and won with a 14-foot putt for his first victory of the season.

“Yeah!” Woods screamed, pumping his right fist three times, as his mother, Kultida, a native of Thailand, rushed to the green to embrace her son.

Woods closed with a 7-under-par 65 while Els wilted in the tropical heat, shooting 74 and 73 for his third and fourth rounds. Els, the defending champion, led for the first three days in the $1.3 million event, the season-opener of the European tour.

“It was really amazing what Tiger did,” he said.

The European tour record for the biggest winning rally in the fourth round is 10 strokes, set by Neil Coles (1977) and Jamie Spence (1992).

After his victory, Woods posed with his trophy on the 18th fairway before three elephants and 100 men dressed in the crimson uniforms of 18th century Siamese soldiers.

Woods, who had rounds of 72-72-71 entering Sunday, started the day eight strokes behind Els. The two finished 72 holes at 9-under 279 on the Blue Canyon Country Club course in Phuket, an island resort some 430 miles south of Bangkok.

Woods was called back from the clubhouse after Els bogeyed the 17th hole, placing him one stroke behind the American. Woods rushed to the practice tees, only to find no golf balls. He took only five or seven practice swings before resuming play, his caddie Mike Cowan said.

“I was pretty nervous on the greens because I hadn’t had any practice putting,” Woods said. “When I warmed up, I hit the ball as hard as I could to get the adrenaline in my system going.”

Els and Woods played the 18th twice during the playoff. On the first extra hole, Woods drove at least 40 yards past the South African. He chipped onto the fringe and two-putted for par.

Els chipped about 15 feet to the right of the hole. His putt rolled an inch to the right, leaving both men tied.

On the second extra hole, Els hit an approach that landed in the rough behind the green. Woods sent his shot 14 feet to the right of the hole. Els rolled a chip just past the hole, setting up Woods’ winning putt. As the ball dropped, hundreds of fans rushed the green as Els solemnly walked away.

“I had a chance on Saturday to close it out, but did not take it,” Els said. “It’s just one of those things. Maybe next time.”

Woods earned $218,661 and Els made $145,763. Retief Goosen of South Africa, who finished third at 280, took home $82,114.

This was Woods’ second appearance as a professional in Thailand. He is not sure if he will play this event next year.

“But I always love Thailand, and I’m sure I’ll come back soon,” Woods said.