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BETHESDA, Md.

"Good job," the missive read. "Now it's my turn."

On a day when Federer made history in London, Tiger Woods may have set himself up for some British glory as well.

OK, Woods' AT&T National victory doesn't rank with Federer's record-breaking win. Quipped Woods: "His [French Open and Wimbledon titles] are a hell of a lot bigger than mine." And there was far less drama yesterday at Tiger's tournament, which had an aura of downright inevitability.

But Woods' absence from the PGA Tour last season--and his relative struggles in this season's first two majors--were supposed to give his rivals opportunities and confidence. Instead, while Woods isn't as intimidating or as consistent as he was before knee surgery--witness his inexplicable week-long struggles at No. 11--he's still tough to beat when he's in the hunt.

Just ask AT&T runner-up Hunter Mahan and third-place finisher Anthony Kim, two of the young stars who are touted as Woods' top challengers. Each shot a course-record round of 62 during Tiger's tournament (Kim in Thursday's first round, Mahan yesterday).

It wasn't enough.

Said Kim: "I learned that if you have a birdie putt, you'd better make it, especially on the last day. Tiger obviously wins for a reason. He makes the putts when he needs to."

Kim shared the 54-hole lead with Woods and was paired with his idol yesterday. As if to show he didn't intend to wilt under the pressure--as so many top players have--Kim dropped a wedge within 3 feet and birdied the first hole to take the lead.

Instead of emboldening Kim, though, the salvo stirred Woods' competitive juices--and awakened the slumbering putter that had abandoned him at the Masters and U.S. Open. Woods tied for sixth place in each major, mainly because he couldn't get a putt to fall.

Yesterday, though, he sank birdies on No. 6 (14 feet), No. 7 (5 feet) and No. 10 (a 30-foot monster). Then, after Mahan had taken the clubhouse lead at 12-under, Woods drained a clutch 20-foot birdie on the par-5 16th to all but ensure his 68th career victory.

Even Mahan, who had gone to the practice range in the hour after he finished, wasn't expecting a playoff.

"He had six holes left to make one birdie," Mahan said.

Kim faded to a 1-over 71--his worst round of the tournament--in his first competitive round with Woods. Mahan didn't face that pressure, and it's fair to ask whether he would have shot a 62 if he'd have been paired with the PGA Tour's most intimidating player.

Why is Woods so daunting?

"Well, I'm 6-5, 250," he deadpanned before breaking out into a grin. "You just go about your business. That's the great thing about golf. You just play your own game."

When he's healthy and focused, Woods' game is a little different from his rivals'. He has won three tournaments this year, each two weeks before a major championship. That momentum did not translate into victory at the Masters or U.S. Open, but something suggests he'll have plenty of confidence entering the British Open at Turnberry.

If he needed more incentive than going a year without a major championship, Woods now trails Federer by one in their personal major chase. Other players will be confident, too, but Tiger has a better track record.

Said Mahan: "For me, it's believing I should be contending and winning events. People tell me, 'You don't know how good you are.' But it doesn't mean anything if I don't believe it. I'm starting to believe it. I'm very proud of how I played today, but whether I won or lost, it was kind of in Tiger's court there."

Join the club, Hunter.

Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
Email: sdeshazo@freelancestar.com

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