Woods Finishes the Dell Technologies Championship at Even Par
NORTON, Mass. – Unable to maximize his good ball-striking, Tiger Woods closed with an even-par 71 on Monday and tied for 24th in the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.
Competing for the fourth time in five weeks, a frustrated Woods was held back once again by near-misses and lip-outs on the speedy greens. Using his third different putter this season, he used 33 strokes in the final round – five more than any of the previous three.
Woods gave himself chances, hitting 10 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens. But he managed just three birdies in the second of four FedExCup playoff events.
Bryon DeChambeau captured his third victory of the season and finished at 16-under 268. Woods wound up at 7-under 277.
He has just two days to regroup before the BMW Championship starts on Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia. Woods maintained his position at No. 25 in the point standings, with the top 30 after the BMW tournament advancing to the Tour Championship, Sept. 20-23 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
With five top 10 finishes in 16 starts this year, including a pair of seconds, Woods knows he is close to securing his 80th PGA Tour win. Putting it all together for four consecutive rounds remains the challenge.
Fellow competitors insist it’s only a matter of time. Woods hopes its sooner rather than later.
Paired with Brooks Koepka on Monday, Woods began the last round tied for 16th, six shots off the lead. It started well with birdies at the par-5 second and par-4 fourth holes. He polished off the front with five-straight pars to 2-under 34.
Woods moved into the top 10 and within three strokes of the lead with a birdie at the par-3 11th, but that would be it for the day.
He bogeyed the par-4 14th, then doubled the par-3 16th. At the latter, Woods fired his tee shot over water straight at the back-left pin but came up short in the hazard. After taking a drop, he wedged on and two-putted.
Woods gave himself another good opportunity at the par-4 17th, then wedged to nine feet at the par-5 finishing hole and lipped out. On the final nine, he missed four putts inside 13 feet.
He’ll look to heat up on Thursday. The field consists of 70 players.
On Tuesday, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk will announce three of his four at-large selections.
