Tiger Woods fell short of an 80th PGA Tour title on Sunday but still gave adoring fans a thrill late in the final round at the Valspar Championship. With victory apparently out of his grasp, Woods stroked a 43-foot birdie putt that broke perfectly into the middle of the 17th hole and took him to the last with a chance of a playoff.
The old-time roar faded, though, and his bid to force eventual winner Paul Casey to extra holes also petered out when his long birdie putt stopped a couple of feet short at the par-four 18th. Still, finishing joint second with Patrick Reed at nine-under 275 at the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort will further fuel belief that the 14-times major champion is back in business.
"I felt very comfortable, actually. I've been here before a few times," the 42-year-old said when asked if he had felt any nerves. My game was quite solid this entire week. As a whole, I felt very good about what I did this week."
Right from the start, Woods was serenaded with shouts of "We love you, Tiger!" and "C'mon Big Cat!" One man told his friend standing off the second fairway: "I'm here for one reason. Tiger." On his way off the course, Woods stopped to sign autographs, showing a good deal more patience than he had during his heyday.
"Wow, what an amazing week ... people, atmosphere, adrenaline, back nine on Sunday, man I’ve missed this," Woods later tweeted. "Getting better. Thank you for all the support!"
Woods hopes to build on this momentum when he journeys next week to a more familiar stomping ground - the Bay Hill resort in Orlando where he has won the tournament formerly hosted by Arnold Palmer eight times.
"It's going to be good for me to get back," Woods told reporters. "I've had some great memories there."
Woods hasn’t won since his seven-shot victory in the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2013. He hasn’t won a tournament when trailing going into the final round since the AT&T National at Congressional in 2012.
