For the second straight Major, Tiger Woods chased the leader into the clubhouse, but came up short. In April, it was Zach Johnson who recovered from a difficult Saturday (76); at the US Open at Oakmont, Angel Cabrera also shot 76 on Saturday, but bounced back with a 69 on Sunday to win.
Tiger has been chasing Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 majors for years; but incredibly, Tiger won his first 12 majors with only 2 second-place finishes (2002 PGA, where Rich Beem won his only major, and 2005 US Open, won by Michael Campbell (his only major title)). But with losses to two-more first-timers this year, Tiger is starting to advance against Nicklaus' (also-record) 19 second-place finishes in major championships. His reputation as a relentless finisher also seems in jeopardy, as he did little to put pressure on Cabrera in the last nine holes, finishing them in +1 (he shot 72, or +2, for the round). Of course, the course and Cabrera's own history (he blew a lead a few weeks ago on the European Tour, which Johnny Miller pointed out repeatedly on the telecast.)
Perhaps what we are learning is that the "real" record is Jack's 37 first- or second-place finishes.
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