Tiger Wins First PGA Tour Title In 14 Months At Buick Invitational

Jet, March 1, 1999

Tiger Woods won the Buick Invitational by two shots when he sank a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to put away Billy Ray Brown at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

This was Woods' first Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour title in his last 14 tournaments.

"I haven't won on the PGA Tour since May of last year," Woods said. "But to finally win again, that feels a lot better than any world ranking."

Woods currently holds the No. I spot in world ranking.

He finished at 22-under par 266, tying George Burns' 1987 tournament record. Brown shot a 66 to finish at 268.

This particular tournament was special, Woods said, because it came in front of family and friends.

"It means a lot to me to do this in front of, in a sense, a hometown crowd," said Woods, who grew up in Southern California. "You can't really say enough how much that really affects you. You don't get to see it every week as you travel all over the world. Most of the time you're alone, you and your caddie."

The former Masters' champion came into the final round one stroke ahead of Brown, and quickly took a four-stroke lead after birdies on three of the first four holes at the 7,055-yard South Course. But he still had to battle Brown, who was tied with Woods at No. 18. But Woods prevailed with superb play.

Brown said he had a fun round until a bad second shot on 18.

"It was Tiger's tournament to lose," he said. "All I could do was go free-wheel, and he's the guy who had pressure on him. And you see how he responded to the pressure. An eagle on the last hole is just indicative of the kind of player he is."