Ranking the 15 best wins in career of Tiger Woods
By Tim Letcher
9. 2006 Open Championship
Woods’ win at the 2006 Open Championship was special for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was that it was Tiger’s first major title since the death of his father Earl, who died in May of that same year.
The win also gave Woods back-to-back Open Championship titles, making him the first to repeat since Tom Watson did so in 1982 and 1983.
Woods put himself in contention at Royal Liverpool with a 5-under par round of 67 on Thursday. Woods trailed first-round leader Graeme McDowell by a shot after 18 holes. The crowded leaderboard had 19 players within two shots of the lead.
In the second round, Woods would fire the round of the day, a 7-under par 65, to take the lead after 36 holes. Ernie Els was one shot behind, while Chris DiMarco was three back of Woods.
On Saturday, when Woods generally separates himself from the field, he was unable to do so. His 1-under par round of 71 allowed him to keep a slim one-shot lead over DiMarco, Els and a surging Sergio Garcia, who shot a 65 on Saturday.
On Sunday, Woods proved once again why he was the best player in the world. Overcoming tough conditions and a ton of emotion, Tiger shot a 67 to win by two shots over DiMarco. As soon as he made the final putt, Woods cried while hugging caddie Steve Williams as Woods remembered his father.