Playing alongside his ex-caddie was the least of Tiger Woods' worries in his opening round at the President's Cup.
Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods looked defenseless against the resilient International tandem of Adam Scott and K.J. Choi in the opening match of the President’s Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course.
The beat-down was non-stop and the International Team needed just 12 holes to close the door on the Americans, 7&6.
The team of Woods and Stricker entered Thursday’s opening session simultaneously the most lauded and unpredictable partnership on the American side.
Although they boasted the best record, 4-0, in the President’s Cup at Harding Park two years ago, neither player has competed consistently over the last few months due to various injuries and absences, a fact that raises serious questions about their readiness for the event.
On Thursday, however, it wasn’t so much a case of Stricker and Woods looking awful, as much as one of Scott and Choi playing nearly flawless golf: they rarely missed fairways, hardly ever put themselves in the wrong place on the greens and converted on crucial putts when the opportunities arose.
Stricker and Woods never found their rhythm, making no birdies and three bogeys.
The match’s 7&6 scoreline stands as the largest margin of victory seen in the event since David Frost defeated Kenny Perry in 1996.
Scott and Stevie got the better of Tiger on the opening day, then, but if we know anything about the former World Number One, it’s that he’s a ferocious competitor.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Woods came out striping fairways, firing at pins, and draining putts on Friday.
(Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
Will
Looks like Stricker pulled a ‘Cristie Kerr’ on the US team.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Tiger comes back too
for the few holes I watched, Stricker hit some pretty poor shots.
I wish I shared your optimism about Woods’ play on Friday. I’d say it’s a 50-50 proposition. The days of him exacting revenge on command seem to be over.
I have to agree with MB Golfer. I din’t see any spark yesterday at all. This isn’t your father’s Tiger Woods any more.
Tiger played average, Stricker looked very rusty though. In alternate shot, especially on a course like Royal Melbourne, you’re rather subject to how your partner plays.
It was a bad pairing – have we not learnt anything; past perfromance is not an indication of future results. You take an old injured dude and put him with a slightly less old struggling rusty dude and expect them to compete? Freddy should have known better and put them with players who are in form.
Je’s just lucky the US is up 4-2 otherwise he’d some serious criticism headed his way. Glad to see he’s splitting them for Friday.
your optimism regarding Tiger is admirable but I think he is in trouble. Maybe if they pair him with some young buck who can energize him in the right direction things will get better. But I dont count on him for much.
Tiger played pretty well. I was fantasizing about Keegan in Stricker’s place; Stricker played awful. Tiger’s mistakes were only from high risk shots to get back into it. He’ll be fine. But not sure how to hide Stricker in the lineup; he’s clearly off his game.
@tjs
I see what you are saying but you could look at it another way…two iffy players together only loses you one point – separate them and you might poison two pairings and lose two points.
That said, Tiger was not awful though he is clearly still somewhat off what we might call his best. Then again, his best was really a heck of a long time ago and we’ll probably never see THAT again.
Wait, SimonAlberta, you’re forgetting, Tiger came in 2nd last week and everyone knows HE’S BACK!!
lulz
sorry, 3rd. snark still stands.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Woods came out striping fairways, firing at pins, and draining putts on Friday.”
…actually, I’d be pretty surprised to see this since Tiger hasn’t hit fairways reliably in years! He’s always been able to overcome his wild driver with good recovery shots and great putting, but he can’t seem to dial his irons in and his putter has turned into a pumpkin, so I suspect the humiliation will continue for Tiger.