*Gasp*
Tiger Woods couldn’t make a putt to save his life on Thursday — but what else is new these days? — and missed a five-footer on the 18th hole at Dove Mountain to lose to Nick Watney in the second round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Given Tiger’s putting woes lately, it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but I was admittedly shocked (initial reaction went something like *gasp,* followed by “wow”). So was Watney.
He had putted out and was preparing to go to the first tee and he was still in shock in the interview by the 18th green.
“I’m definitely in a little bit of shock,” said Watney.
Woods missed three putts within ten feet in the last six holes. He said afterwards that he was pushing everything, but it wouldn’t be hard to fix. (Yeah, definitely looked like he was shoving it a little right.) In my opinion, it’s more mental than anything else. I’ve never been to the Match Play, but the greens look like a pain in the you-know-what — and just tricky and maybe even a tad stupid.
Well, I’m just glad I chose Watney over Tiger in my bracket…(no, it’s not anything personal, but he hasn’t putted well lately).
In other news…
*Dustin Johnson clobbered Francesco Molinari 7&5. He’ll face Mark Wilson in the third round.
*Playing in this event for the first time in nine years, Paul Lawrie managed to hold off Ryo Ishikawa 1-up. Lawrie will face fellow Scot Martin Laird, who beat Matteo Manassero 2&1. Which totally messed up my bracket. Plus, I was rooting for a Ryo vs. Manny match. That would have been really fun. Oh well.
*Thursday’s tweet of the day goes to…Lee Westwood, who poked some fun at himself for making it past the second round of this event for the first time.
Feel like the 1st man on the moon! 1 giant step through to Friday at the matchplay! Need more clothes. Didn’t pack for long enough!
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) February 23, 2012
He jokingly told Golf Channel’s Steve Sands after beating Robert Karlsson 3&2: “I don’t know what Fridays are like here…First thing I’m going to do is fill up my courtesy car because I’ve never had to drive on a Friday before…I have to get more fuel…”
Westy will play Watney in the third round.
*In the Torrey Pines rematch, Brandt Snedeker outlasted Kyle Stanley 2&1 and will face Peter Hanson, who throttled Ernie Els 5&4.
*Rory McIlroy’s short game is looking super sharp! His chipping was excellent. He joked in his post-win interview that it’s because he’s been getting a lot of practice around the greens since his ballstriking hasn’t been too good. McIlroy beat Anders Hansen 3&2 and will play against Miguel Angel Jimenez, aka “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” who held off infamous spitter Keegan Bradley 2&1.
*Who else is still standing? Steve Stricker vs. Hunter Mahan; Matt Kuchar vs. Martin Kaymer; John Senden vs. Sang-Moon Bae.
*Here are the Round 3 pairings.
*How’s your bracket looking? Here are the current rankings in the WUP group.
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
I’d just like to point out that I told Stephanie before Tiger hit the putt that he was going to miss. He hadn’t been putting well but he’d made the ones on 15 & 16, and he made the one on 18 yesterday, so it made logical sense that he was going to miss.
That being said after seeing those greens (and the number of players missing putts), I get why Phil isn’t there
There is nothing wrong with the greens. Let them play at a local muni and they would pull their hair out. Pros always want to blame the greens instead of a misread or a poor stroke.
Tiger shot about even par or +1, depending on what you assign his conceeded hole. Yesterday he was about +2. Any regular event, he’s a MC. The idea that he just needs to tweak his short putting is a joke. How many times was he in the desert ? Every guy out there can knock it stiff a few times a round, its consistancy that gets it done, and TW lacks that. My prediction last week for his big 3 week stretch is so far right on:
MP: 2nd round exit
Honda: MC – a victim to the “Bear Trap”
Doral: Top 10
Networks lose weekend ratings huh. Well with Tiger the ratings would be low and without him they’ll probably be a third lower. That’s what the tour gets for selling the sport as Tiger and all those other losers for the past 15 years. They should take a page from NASCAR where they sell every driver like if he just caught a few breaks he’d be the second coming of Richard Petty. That’s why come the Daytona 500 Sunday losing any one driver wouldn’t affect the ratings.
NASCAR, the most ridiculous activity in the history of activity.
I could not agree more with Breaker. The greens are quirky, but fine for match play.
Your so negative towards tiger and Bradley really the press meaning you is making to big of a deal of his spitting your columns just are not the same as they used to be
Why isn’t the World #1 and defending champ exiting in round 1 a bigger news?
Regardless of Tiger or not, match play is a weird TV event. By the time it gets to the weekend, there’s only like 8 guys left, and even on Sunday only 2 play a meaningful match.
Don’t get me wrong–I love the event, as a diehard. Not sure regular viewers can get into it. I have a job, I can’t really watch any of the fun Wed/Thurs/Friday rounds. (I follow scores online though.)
But even as a diehard, this loses a lot of interest–to tune in on Sunday for 3-4 hours just to watch 2 guys go at it seems like a big waste of time. I probably will not bother, we’ll see.
Agree that the weekend of this event is probably the worst weekend on the PGA Tour schedule. Will be a shame, since the last 2 weeks have been great viewing, esp on Sunday. But watching (for example) Westwood take on Hunter Mahan for 36 on Sunday is not going to come close.
On a second Tiger note: would it kill him to congratulate the guy who beat him ? How about “Nick hit it well today, and drained some good putts,” or something like that? Or after Phil waxed him at Pebble a congrats or observation on what a great round he saw? No such luck.
Txq don’t knock it till you have been in one going within 20 mph of the speeds they race. It is no more ridiculous than golf or basketball or most any sport.
@BrianS Tiger played the hole out to double-bogey he conceded so Watney didn’t have to putt, of course people occasionally play holes differently in match-play then they would otherwise, but anyways he hit 14/18 greens today that doesn’t scream long game problems.
Most of the players have hit a few into the dessert
Right. All sports identical. And yet in one sport they’re sitting down.
Elin must have gotten the old putting stroke as part of the divorce settlement.
In any event, it is gone.
Hah! Good one, MM.
@BrianS just for you from Tiger’s Sunday press conf at Pebble:
“Q. What do you think of the way Phil played?
TIGER WOODS: He played really good today. He was hitting it flush. To hear the sound, his trajectory was really good. And his wedge game was right on the money. I mean, every shot that he had a wedge in there, he hit it inside ten feet and just it’s a little tricky to do it because the greens have so much pitch on it and they are spinning that you’ve got to play for a little bit of roll coming back down the hills. He was doing it great.”
If you want to read all the other nice things Tiger said about how Phil played here’s the link: http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=77433
There’s also the post round hand shake, congrats thing, but I guess that doesn’t count.
@Shoshana, well, thanks for the link, but I would note though that he was specifically asked. What I am referring to is his natural reaction right on the scene as he gets grabbed by (today) the XM guy, is to ignore the fact that another guy beat him.
Maybe that’s what it takes, but he has made it painfully obvious throughout his career that being gracious to his fellow competitors does not come natural.
Right now he is #20 in OWGR. He finished up T17 with a bunch of other guys. Sounds just about right. At some point, isn’t his record a reflexion of what he is ?
Glad to see that Tiger and Bradley are out – I would have hated for them to make the final because then I wouldn’t be able to watch it. Those two are the worst spitters and I have to say that I find it so gross that I cannot watch, especially as they are seen in close up.
I don’t understand why some on here don’t find it distasteful and gross.
To follow on this theme for a minute, you will know that the Tour does not allow players to wear shorts. This is to maintain a dress code so that the game is seen with some dignity. How then can spitting be allowed?
Match play is so unpredictable at the professional level. Any one of these guys on their day is capable of beating one or another.
Good luck finding the overall winner!
Journlism at its finest: Continue to whine and moan about Tiger getting undue attention, then go on and continue to write about him.
Wait, just look at the counts of those comments on blog entries written about other golfers.
Why isn’t there a follow up on Jason Day’s wife?
What about a followup on how Bradley feel about curbing his spitting as part of his pre-shot routine?
What about Luke Donald? Is there something about the World #1 having 2 back-to-back lackluster performance? How did he feel about the 20th ranked player making it one round deeper?
What about The Rock? How did someone who took down former #1 lose to a 100 lbs soaking wet Mark Wilson?
Where is Stewart Cink?
Webb Simpson, what is the matter with him? Is it because God is no logner with him?
And who is the ‘Jeremy Lin’ of golf?
etc
etc
@BrianS just for you the transcript from Phil’s press conf Sunday at Riviera: http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=77515
If you bother to read both transcripts you’ll notice that Tiger brings up Phil much sooner and much more often, then Phil brings up Bill. Does this make either of them a sore loser or not gracious in defeat? Not in the slightest. Randomly enough they are being interviewed and answering the questions asked.
When he went over to the sirius/xm guy he was stunningly asked about his putting, in a completely illogical move, he answered the question, rather than saying yeah Nick played great even if I’d played well I wouldn’t have beaten him bc that’s patently not true.
Look you want to rip on Tiger for cursing after getting bit by cacti on 10, at least he did that (though I would’ve been cursing up a storm to), but saying he’s a poor loser just isn’t supported by fact.
Phil’s not my favorite golfer, but I don’t think he’s the root of all evil or that everything he does is somehow wrong and terrible. I don’t really get the people who have decided that because they don’t like Tiger he must be the worst at everything (for example DJ would kick his butt in a who spits most contest).
KC, you are right on.
Tiger is lazy golf talk for those who play at journalism. When he is not around, their heads spin in chaos, unable to focus or come up with something/anything…unless you count what color Ricky is wearing today.
We need a golf media reset button.
@Divot is spot on.. btw this Golf course is horrible. The Green complexes make no sense. Change of venue please. Don’t read too much into Tiger losing. Doral will be the real barometer to how he’s playing
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen more 5-10ft missed today than made, and it’s not that close
@Shoshanna – I don’t think Tiger’s the root of all evil, but I think he’s a bad guy. He treated everyone else in the game like dirt on his way up to the top. He never thought he would need them. His lack of class in victory or in defeat has been illustrated many times over the years. Is it possible that now in his middle age years, after being humbled again and again, that he has gained some wisdom and maturity? Certainly. But he is reaping what he has sown, and that is just a price he will continue paying for years to come.
@BrianS, since I’ve now provided multiple pieces of evidence to support my position that this whole Tiger is classless in victory/defeat thing is BS, please cite some evidence to make your case (and not the 1996 Amateur, where he hugs his parents when they run out onto the green).
Tiger has I am sure treated media, volunteers etc people he doesn’t need. However the whole he’s classless in defeat/victory thing doesn’t stand up. And he is well liked by his peers, doubt that would be true if he was a jerk in defeat/victory.
TXQ there are many sports you can play sitting down. Chess, Texas Hold’em and Bridge are covered in Sports Illustrated. Most sports can be played sitting down just ask those who participate who cannot walk and play from a wheel chair.
If you do not happen to care for a certain sport there is no need to ridicule. If looked upon rationally all sports could be considered ridiculous except possibly fishing where you can get a nice meal out of the adventure albeit at a high price.
Have a nice day
Yikes. Please stop before you ramble about checkers. A
nd the hackneyed “Have a nice day.” Really? Go fish.
Rory Sabbatini won the 2011 Honda Classic and is coming back to play the Mayakoba Golf Classic! Watch the action this weekend on the Golf Channel! http://bit.ly/AoMeIJ
@Shoshana – you want a specific: I suggest you read John Feinstein’s books, John being one of the few writers of a few years back that would publicy take on TW for various “bad guy” examples, including I would say a refutation of your claim that he is “well liked by his peers”. When you have to afraid that any commment you will make about TW will be taken the wrong way by him, even you are just trying to answer a question honestly, and as a result face his wrath and go on his lifetime grudge list, I don’t think that generates much “like”. They respect him, expect little, and are happy when they get what they expect. As late as 2 weeks ago when he didn’t even have the common courtesy that every other tour pro would have to go ahead and putt out and let Phil have the stage on the 18th green at Pebble. Of course karma is a b, and Tiger gagged the 3 footer in front of Phil any everyone else.
But anyway, for my example: Congo CC, ATT National, 2009. Friday, TW on walk from 9 green to 10 tee. Walkway packed with many small kids, many who had just camped out there waiting – the yells, Hey Tiger, Hey Tiger, ect filled the air as he walks through – The acknowledgment from Tiger for this – not even a glance beyond the ground about 3 feet ahead of his shoes. No smiles, nothing. Bad guy.
@BrianS: So for an example of Tiger being a bad loser, you point to a Friday afternoon? Not arguing he’s nice to fans during a round.
(oh, and on the Phil thing, seriously? a)Phil jumped in as soon as Tiger blew the putt by and b) there was another group waiting to hit onto the green. Nobody with an iota of common sense/objectivity thinks that was a problem, which has been covered ad nauseum)
Congo was an example of him being a bad winner. And yes, ignoring the people that pay your checks, not to mention attending what was then “Tiger’s Tourney” is bad.
Re: the Phil put, Tiger should have putted his birdie try out, and waved off Phil. Again, I reference John Feinstein’s blog (Feinstein on the Brink) entry:
http://www.feinsteinonthebrink.com/index.php?id=2843356311304035537
“To my friend Bill and the other Tiger-does-no-wrong defenders. 1. He said he was playing for the money in Abu Dhabi only when asked and knowing that everyone knew it anyway. On his web site his initial explanation was, ‘wanting to see new places.’ BTW, how’d you like him marking and refusing to get off the stage for Phil Mickelson on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach on Sunday the way every other golfer on tour would have done for another player who is clearly going to win a tournament? Forget me, every single player on tour noticed that one.”
BrianS, you need to simmer down with your obsession of Tiger. The world needs less haters like you.
@BrianS you use an example from Friday, he hadn’t won yet, I’m pretty sure even the PGA Tour doesn’t give Tiger trophy’s on Friday. When he competes he lives in his own bubble world, like it or don’t, that’s your prerogative. However, it has nothing to do with being a good or bad winner.
BTW if Phil hadn’t holed that putt and Wi had holed out from the frwy they would’ve been tied. Feinstein is consistently conveniently ignoring that there was another group waiting to hit into the green.
Oh, and if you don’t want to believe me here’s Annika’s take on the situation (i.e. someone who has actually played a high level): “On the 18th hole on Sunday, Tiger lagged his first putt and then Phil did not offer him a chance to finish putting so instead, Tiger putted out after Phil had won the tournament. She is fine with what happened because it looked like that both players were focused although it is considered to be polite to allow the person who will not win to clear the way for the person who is going to win on the final green. ”
http://www.golfchannel.com/news/morning-drive/annika-sorenstam-february-16-2012/
Anyways this is getting silly. You clearly have decided that everything Tiger does is bad/wrong, and that he’s bad/wrong in every way, and evidence is sort of immaterial.
TXQ what a poor come back you tried to make. I guess you have nothing in the way of a real argument.
Ciao (Go figure that pun out LOL)
Argument? Over NASCAR? Yeesh. “Comeback” has become 2 words? Good to know. Go practice your fake LOLs. And if you’re Bruce Holley, a lame, gross commenter I unfriended a year ago, I see you haven’t changed. Now get the last word in, like all children have to do.
And also learn how to take rejection better than you have.
TXQ, has yeesh become a word now? Good to know. Calling people names instead of supporting an argument? I would not call that adult behavior.
“Now get the last word in, like all children have to do.”
Then you make another post right after that. OOPS!