They say the really good ones can make things happen. So it was that Tiger Woods did precisely what was expected of him by shooting a final round of 68 to claim top prize of £200,000, three strokes ahead of second-placed Retief Goosen, in the Deutsche Bank SAP Open/TPC of Europe here at sunny St Leon-Rot yesterday.
A 15-under-par aggregate of 273, ensured him a winning debut on Continental Europe. It also delivered his second victory on the European Tour, 16 months after his win in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand. And it was his second win this year, after the Buick Invitational in San Diego last February.
"I got better as the week went on, but I felt very nervous today, even though I got off to the start I needed," said Woods afterwards. "The key was that I stayed patient and concentrated on hitting fairways and not making bogeys. I made only three all week: that's not too bad." Indeed not.
By way of saluting the achievement of the young conqueror from the New World, a local orchestra struck up Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance march in a symphony concert later in the afternoon. It was that sort of event.
Nick Price also fitted into the Woods mould. Though the Zimbabwean was four strokes adrift in third place, that of itself was a remarkable achievement. It meant coming from the brink on 147 at the halfway stage, to finish with successive 65s, equalling his course-record of Sunday.
Meanwhile, Darren Clarke, in a share of seventh place for £29,196, was angry with himself for squandering a glorious opportunity of a top-four finish. With birdies at the first, fifth and sixth to be seven under for the tournament, he had a share of third place behind Woods. But his effort came to grief at the 464-yard 12th.
This semi-dogleg left, presents an awkward drive between fairway bunkers on the right and water on the left. Which explains why Clarke opted for a three wood off the tee. But he blocked it into deep rough on the right from where events, by his own admission, developed into a comedy of errors.
First of all a spectator lifted the ball and dropped it again, into a perfect lie. After calling for a ruling, however, Clarke was instructed that he should drop the ball and, almost predictably, the outcome wasn't favourable. From a poor lie, his five-wood recovery went into a left greenside bunker from where a thinned escape scurried through the green. Then came an over-zealous pitch and three putts.
"I certainly paid the price for one bad drive," he said ruefully. "It was a pity after the way I had played the first 11 holes. But I have to be heartened by my form. I hit an awful lot of good shots."
He birdied all of the par fives, reaching the first and 11th with five-wood second shots for two-putt birdies and getting up and down at long fifth and 16th. His other birdies were at the sixth and 13th where he holed an eight-foot putt in each case.
It was easily his best finish in 12 European starts this season, comfortably surpassing a share of 20th place in the Henson and Hedges International last week. And it lifted him 36 places to a more respectable 50th in the Order of Merit.
Padraig Harrington, who finished with a 73 for a share of 38th place and £8,280, plans to limit his preparation for this week's Volvo PGA Championship to one round, in the hope of getting his rhythm back. "With zero confidence out there, it was one of the toughest days I have ever experienced," he said.
The remainder of the Irish were well out of the serious money. Paul McGinley had a closing 75 for 295 and a share of 63rd place (£2,790), while Des Smyth had a 76 for 67th place (£1,794) and Eamonn Darcy shot a 75 for 71st (£1,787).
Price, whose penchant for low scoring brought him the course record of 63 at Augusta National, continued where he had left off on Sunday, racing to the turn in 31 to be eight under overall. But one felt he could never do more than throw a mild scare into the tournament leader.
Still, the Zimbabwean insisted: "The bogey at 15 really hurt me. I felt if I got to 13 under I had a chance, although a 63 around here was a tall order." So, it was left to Goosen, though he also had too much leeway to make up. Indeed, he did remarkably well to claim second place with a final round of 66 which contained four birdies in the last six holes.
In the light of Clarke's experience, it was most revealing to note the winner's remarks about the treacherous 12th. "I think the whole tournament hinged on that hole," he said. "It is one of the toughest holes out there and I played it in one under par over the four days (Clarke was four over)."
He went on: "I didn't feel too comfortable on the tee there today and I hit a two iron into the right rough. But from there I knocked it back into play with a nine iron." That shot finished 50 yards from the green from where he pitched to 18 inches for a marvellous par.
Woods putted extremely well, especially from long range. He had a two-putt birdie from 30 feet at the first; holed a 20-footer for a birdie at the short fourth; a 35-footer for a birdie at the sixth and a 30-footer for his last birdie at the 15th.
Victory here has restored him to number two in the world rankings, ahead of Davis Love but still behind David Duval. He drove the ball an average of 304 yards, to be 12 yards clear of Angel Cabrera who was second longest; Clarke was tied fourth at an average of 286 yards.
Yesterday's victory means that out of 11 strokeplay tournaments so far this year, Woods has won two, with four other top-seven finishes. He was tied fifth in the Andersen World Matchplay in February.
"I will be back to defend next year," he said in reply to a question from a German scribe, before quickly adding with one of his more disarming smiles, "I hope." Which was the cue for the money men to start talking.
