• Out of Bounds

Say it quietly, but Tiger is back

Tiger Woods had the fire back in the belly at the US Open © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Woods bullish on chances of Open success
  
• News: Els confident of major glory
  
• News: Ishikawa set for Scottish Open debut
  
• News: McDowell to remain loyal to European Tour
  
• Profile: Tiger Woods

Hats off to Graeme McDowell who stood tall while those around him wilted to become the first European since 1970 to win the US Open.

McDowell started the day three off the lead but as the rest of the challengers, and in particular overnight leader Dustin Johnson, fell apart on an admittedly treacherous Pebble Beach set-up, the Ulsterman plotted his way round with an air of calm. McDowell carded a final-day round of 74 which gave him a level-par 284 for the week. That he was the only man not to finish over par speaks volumes for the difficulty level the players had to face. But this is the US Open and if you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.

Even the mighty Tiger Woods found life tough, as a laboured 75 saw him finish three off the winning score of McDowell. But rewind 24 hours and we saw a glimpse of what has been missing since Woods returned to the course. The world No. 1 has a fine record at Pebble Beach and had to show signs of life in order to raise belief that he can still be the dominant force in golf. And during a back nine of 31 shots on Saturday, the galleries were treated to a vintage Woods display. From the moment he drained a birdie on 11, it was as if the shackles were removed and he played without inhibition for the first time in months.

Further birdies on 13, 16 and 17 set the platform for what went on at 18. It was on the final hole, well one shot on the final hole, that left Out of Bounds in absolutely no doubt that golf's draw card still has what is required to win majors and win majors in style. An adrenaline-fuelled tee shot on the 543-yard par five left Woods' ideal route to the green blocked out by the famous Monterrey Cypress tree in the middle of the fairway. Woods had the choice of playing a conservative lay-up or fire at the green. The latter option was taken, the degree of difficulty was huge as it was 275 yards to the pin, but due to the way he had to shape the three wood it was more like 290. The only option was to fire the ball out towards the Pacific Ocean before fading it back over the bunker and onto the green.

The result was quite stunning, a shot executed to perfection that landed on the green and rolled up pin high to rest 15-feet away. The reaction of Woods and his caddie Steve Williams told the story: fist pumps and high fives. In an instant it proved that Woods still had that killer instinct in him, to take on what others would deem impossible and execute to perfection.

He missed the eagle putt, but in the big scheme of things it did not matter. To rebuild a career that was in tatters takes time, but in one swing of a fairway wood we saw that the greatest player to pick up a club still has it in him to produce the magic moments.

Woods' main target for the remainder of the season will be the Open at St Andrews. His record on the Old Course is arguably better than his record at Pebble Beach and if he adopts the positive attitude that was on show last weekend, we may well see the Claret Jug in his hands come July 18.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.