ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610080011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS
SOURCE: Associated Press
It was familiar territory for Tiger Woods, match play for all the stakes. Even with Davis Love III to beat, Woods seemed destined to win the Las Vegas Invitational in only his fifth tournament as a professional golfer.
The skills that won Woods three U.S. Amateurs gave him his first victory as a pro Sunday, as he beat Love on the first playoff hole.
``It was just like the Amateur,'' Woods said. ``I didn't play match play that long ago. Now it's match play and you've got to try to make a 3.''
Woods didn't make 3, but he did par the 18th hole in the playoff, putting the pressure on Love by hitting a 9-iron within 20 feet. Love hit next, putting his 8-iron into a trap and the tournament was all but over.
Woods missed his birdie putt, but Love could not make a 6-footer for par, and the crowd erupted in cheers of ``Tiger, Tiger'' as golf's newest sensation quietly celebrated his first victory and a payday of $297,000.
``He's obviously the next great player and we're all going to have to work to beat him,'' said Love, also a loser in a five-man playoff last week in the Buick Challenge. ``As disappointed as I am, I'm that much happy for him. He's a great player and he's great for the tour.''
Ironically, Woods had told Love in a practice round before he pulled out of last week's tournament that he wanted to play head-to-head with him down the stretch for his first victory.
He played Sunday four groups in front of Love, but after shooting an 8-under 64 they were paired in a playoff before thousands of fans pulling for Woods to win.
``I said `Wouldn't it be nice if we could play head-to-head down the stretch,''' Woods recalled. ``It's kind of ironic we ended up being in a playoff.''
Woods, four shots off Ronnie Black's lead entering the day, eagled the par-5 third hole and played the long holes 5-under on the day. He simply overpowered the course, as evidenced on the 563-yard ninth hole when he hit driver and 6-iron within 15 feet while playing partner Keith Fergus hit driver-driver and was short of the green.
``Bring it home, Mr. Woods,'' they cheered from the huge throng that followed Woods as he made his move with a 32 on the front nine. He finally caught the leaders with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole and took over sole possession of the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th.
Woods pumped his fist in the air after making the putt at 14 and strode to the 15th tee, where, the adrenaline pumping, he hit a 3-wood 40 yards past the pin on the 272-yard par-4.
Love, who was three shots back after a double bogey on 10, roared right back into it, though. He drove the green on the par-4 15th and made a 25-foot putt for eagle, then birdied 16 to tie Woods at 27-under.
Love had a chance to take the lead, but missed a 12-foot putt on 17 and two-putted from 35 feet on 18 for par.
``I just didn't hit it as good today,'' Love said. ``I made some putts starting off, but I didn't make many coming in.''
Woods, who went straight to the driving range to stay warm while waiting for Love to finish, applied some match-play tactics on the 444-yard playoff hole by taking a 3-wood off the tee instead of the 2-iron he had used in regulation to make sure he stayed clear of a desert canyon on the left
The two players were nearly side-by-side in the fairway, but it was Woods who hit first. The shot put pressure on Love, who tried to get too fine with his shot.
``It was fortunate I could hit first and put some pressure on him,'' Woods said. ``He would know I was in position for a birdie and I did that. He just came over an 8-iron a bit.''
Love hit a difficult sand shot six feet by the hole and, after Woods just rolled his birdie putt by the hole and tapped in for par, missed the left edge of the cup with his par putt.
``It's been an unbelievable experience,'' Woods said. ``Especially after starting out with a 70 and being so far back.''
He earned $297,000, bringing his earnings to $437,194. Undecided previously about playing in the final two tournaments of the year, Woods indicated he might play in the hopes of getting in the top 30 and a spot in the Tour Championship. The victory also gave Woods a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a guaranteed spot in the Masters.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Woodsby CNB