Tiger Woods sounded an ominous warning to his rivals for this month's US Open in New York with a vintage display in winning the Memorial tournament by one shot on Sunday.
The American world No 1 clinched the title for a record fourth time, hitting every fairway at Muirfield Village Golf Club in the final round before clinching his 67th PGA Tour victory with a superb seven-under-par 65.
It was his second title this year in seven starts on the US circuit and silenced critics who had argued Woods was not back to his best after being sidelined for eight months while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.
The US Open will be held from June 18-21 at Bethpage's Black Course in New York where Woods will start as the overwhelming favorite.
Not only did he win the US Open when it was last held at Bethpage in 2002 but he will be defending the title he won last year in a playoff at Torrey Pines outside San Diego.
"It was nice to play this well going into the US Open," a smiling Woods told reporters after shooting the best score in the final round by two shots.
"This is how you have to hit it in order to win US Opens, especially Bethpage. That golf course is as big as they come. You have to hit the ball well all week. I did that in 2002, and that was one of the reasons why I was up there."
Four strokes off the pace going into the final round at Memorial, Woods sealed victory with a thrilling birdie-birdie finish on arguably the course's two toughest holes.
'Pretty special'
"My hat's off to him," said fellow American Jim Furyk, who birdied the par-four last for a 69 and second place at 11-under 277. "Birdieing the last two is pretty special. Those pins weren't in easy spots.
"I cleared the rest of the field by three shots and just didn't beat one guy. I'm disappointed. It sucks finishing second. But he played better. A 65 today on those greens is pretty spectacular."
Woods, who won his 66th PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, was delighted with his ball-striking all week at Memorial.
"I really controlled my flight and felt in control with shaping the ball both ways," he said. "I didn't really have a problem hitting it either way.
"That's when you know you feel like you're in control of what you're doing. I didn't hit any surprises out there.
"I always want to come here and play," Woods said of the PGA Tour event hosted by Jack Nicklaus. "This is one of the greatest golf courses we get to play on all year, and that includes the major championships.
"If you play well here, it always gives you a lot of confidence going into a major championship. This is set up sometimes harder than a major."
Asked to recall when he had last hit the ball as well for all four rounds at a tournament, he replied: "Hoylake. I did all right there."
Woods won the 2006 British Open at Hoylake by two shots after what he then described as one of the best ball-striking weeks of his career.
(Reuters via China Daily June 9, 2009)
