The less things change …
The FedEx Cup didn’t change anything but Tiger Woods’ bank account.
The PGA Tour’s “new era in golf” came to a familiar conclusion Sunday when Woods captured the Tour Championship in record-setting fashion, closing with a 4-under 66 for an eight-shot victory at East Lake and his seventh title of the season, at Atlanta.
The only difference?
This was the first time Woods walked away from one tournament with two trophies.
Along with the Tour Championship and its $1.26 million prize, Woods was a runaway winner of the FedEx Cup and the $10 million that goes into his retirement account.
Woods stretched his three-shot lead to four at the turn, and the only drama was whether he would break the 72-hole scoring record on the PGA Tour. He had to settle for a 23-under 257, his career low on tour and breaking the event mark by six shots.
Masters champion Zach Johnson closed with a 68 and tied for second with Mark Calcavecchia, who shot a 71.
Solheim Cup
At Halmstad, Sweden, the United States used a top-to-bottom blowout in singles to overcome a one-point deficit in soggy Sweden and win one of the biggest prizes in women’s golf. This was only the second time they’ve captured the cup on European soil.
Paula Creamer’s tap-in on the 15th hole ensured the Americans of the 14 points they needed to retain the cup, and Nicole Castrale’s 8-footer moments later wrapped up the United States’ second straight win.
By the time the matches and the blowout were over, the United States had gone 8-3-1 in singles to win 16-12.
There were celebrations all over the course as the final matches played out. Nine of the Americans piled onto a cart to watch Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis finish their matches. Laura Diaz sat in the front waving an American flag.
Early winners included Juli Inkster, Pat Hurst, Angela Stanford, Morgan Pressel and Stacy Prammanasudh. Creamer and Castrale sealed the win. Then, Gulbis won, and the Americans bumped their winning percentage in singles from .590 to .602.
Champions Tour
R.W. Eaks won his second Champions Tour title of the year, closing with a 2-under 70 to hold off Jay Haas and Rod Spittle by two strokes in the Greater Hickory Classic at Conover, N.C.
Eaks finished with a 17-under 199 total to break the tournament record of 16-under 200 set by Haas in 2005. Last year, Eaks rallied from a five-stroke deficit to force a playoff with eventual winner Andy Bean at Rock Barn Golf and Spa.
Haas finished with a 66, and Spittle shot a 69.