The Tiger Woods era almost didn’t begin on Oct. 6, 1996. Keith Fergus still believes he had Woods beat on that 1996 afternoon in Las Vegas.
Trailing by one on the 16th tee at TPC Summerlin, Fergus knew he needed at least a birdie to keep pace with Woods, who had bludgeoned the par 5s all day, hitting an iron into each. But with Woods already on the green in two, Fergus was greedy with his wedge shot. His ball ricocheted off the rocks short of the green and splashed into the pond.