Nov 28, 2002 4 min read

POIPU BEACH, Hawaii (AP) – Tiger Woods surprised even himself Wednesday. Woods continued his dominance at the Grand Slam of Golf, winning the tournament for the fifth straight time with a tournament-record round of 11-under 61.

Woods, this year’s Masters and U.S. Open champion, finished with a record 17 under par to win by 14 strokes over Justin Leonard and Davis Love III. Wednesday’s score also broke the tournament and course record at the 7,081-yard oceanside Poipu Bay Golf Course on Kauai.

“I was surprised at a couple shots I hit out there,” he said. “I really couldn’t mis-hit a shot today. Every shot I hit was right in the middle of the face.”

The 61 tied Woods’ personal best for an 18-hole tournament round.

“I was making shots, aiming at my shots and I was knocking down my putts,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun when everything works like that.”

Love shot 69, while Leonard closed with a 72 in the 36-hole event for this year’s major champions. PGA champion Rich Beem finished last at 1-over 145 after a 73.

“What a phenomenal round Tiger played, and it was a lot of fun watching him,” Beem said. “It’s amazing how when somebody gets on a roll like he got on today, how fun it is to watch somebody, because everything clicks. The golf ball was just going right at the target all day.”

With Woods winning two majors and British Open champion Ernie Els withdrawing from the event, Love and Leonard gained invitations based on their finishes in those majors.

In muggy conditions with a light drizzle, Woods made it easy for himself by getting off to a fast start for the second straight day and shooting another bogey-free round.

He birdied six of the first eight holes, putting the event out of reach for his opponents. Woods made the turn at 30, with an eight-stroke lead over Leonard. He pulled away on the back nine by birdying Nos. 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18. He also lipped a couple other birdie putts.

“I needed to go out there and play a good, solid front nine and I just got on a roll,” Woods said. “It just kept going.”

Even when he was in a little trouble, like his approach shot on No. 2 that found the right bunker, Woods found a way out. His shot out of the sand landed within a foot for a birdie putt.

Woods, the PGA player of the year and the tour’s money leader, earned $400,000 of the $1 million purse. Love and Leonard each received $225,000 and Beem $150,000.

Leonard, who started the day three strokes behind Woods, found himself six strokes behind after three holes and never got back into contention for the lead.

“I love Kauai, don’t get me wrong, but I’m glad I’m not playing the golf course again tomorrow,” Leonard said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to come back, and I hope to next year.”

Leonard finished fourth in the 1997 Grand Slam, the same year Woods made his first Poipu appearance and finished second.

Love, who finished third at Poipu in 1997 and second in 1999, played consistent until double bogeying the course’s signature 16th hole by hitting into the hazard and taking a drop.

“I didn’t play very well today again,” he said. “I enjoyed watching Tiger’s round. It was one of the better rounds I’ve seen in a long time.”

Beem, the only player in the foursome making his first Grand Slam appearance, began the day with two birdies but had a double bogey on the 152-yard No. 7 when his 7-iron tee shot hit the rocks and went into the water.

With the win, Woods brought his 2002 total tour and unofficial earnings to $7,742,515. It was his seventh victory this season in 21 events. He has five wins on the PGA Tour.

Woods broke his own the tournament mark of 12-under-132, set last year in his three-stroke victory over David Toms. The 14-stroke win Wednesday also was the widest margin of victory in the Grand Slam since 1982, when Bill Rogers defeated David Graham by five strokes.