Woods surges to seven-shot Memorial triple
( 2001-06-04 09:15 ) (7 )

Tiger Woods surged to his thrd consecutive Memorial Tournament win on Sunday after a final round birdie blitz gave the world number one a seven-shot victory at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Woods closed with a blistering six-under-par 66 for a 17-under 271 total on a cold, grey day that left Paul Azinger and Spaniard Sergio Garcia tied for a distant second.

Woods collected $738,000 for his fifth win in his last six starts worldwide as he became the first player to win a US Tour event three times in a row since Tom Watson strung together a trio of Byron Nelson Classic titles from 1978-80.

The crucial moment of the final day came on the fifth hole.

Moments after Azinger, the third-round leader, knocked his 3-wood second shot in the water in front of the green at the par-5 fifth, Woods stuck a 3-iron from 240 yards to within six feet. He drained the eagle putt while Azinger wedged on and two-putted from 12 feet for bogey.

When Azinger, who won the Memorial in 1993, bogeyed the following hole, the 25-year-old Woods was three shots clear of the field.

A two-putt birdie on the par-5 seventh hole, set up by a 270-yard, 3-wood approach, lifted Woods to a four-stroke advantage and he was off to his 12th straight under-par round at Muirfield Village.

Woods dominated the par-5s on his way to the commanding victory. He played them in 14 under par for the week, adding one more on Sunday to go with five birdies.

Azinger, 41, birdied the opening hole to lead Woods by two shots, but only birdied one more hole while giving back four shots to post a final-round 74. Garcia registered an up-and-down 71 to tie Azinger at 10-under 278.

Stewart Cink finished alone in fourth place at 279 after a 71.