Tiger, 3 other ex-champs can't catch Phil
Woods, Olazabal, Singh, Couples all in hunt, but couldn't make key putts
 Morry Gash / AP Tiger Woods hangs his head after rolling his eagle putt some six feet past the 13th hole Sunday. |
|
 | Slideshow |
 | more photos |
 | Latest golf video |
 Phelps wishes Tiger the best Dec. 18: Michael Phelps comments on Tiger Woods' situation saying he is hoping for the best for Woods and his family during what he is sure is a very difficult time. |
 | Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
Golf on NBC |
 | Next up: ADT Skills Challenge |
 | Special feature |
 |
AUGUSTA, Ga. - There were so many green jackets chasing Phil Mickelson for a time on the back nine at the Masters that the leaderboard looked more like the champions locker room.
Tiger Woods. Jose Maria Olazabal. Vijay Singh. Fred Couples. Eight titles at Augusta National among them. And not one of them could make a putt when he needed it most Sunday afternoon.
“As good as I hit it, that’s as bad as I putted,” Woods said. “If I had putted halfway decently, I’d be giving Phil a battle.”
By the end of the day, the parade of former champions couldn’t even hold onto second place. That belonged to unheralded Tim Clark, known best as the South African who isn’t Ernie Els or Retief Goosen.
Clark finished two strokes behind Mickelson at 5-under 283, while Couples, Olazabal, Woods, Goosen and Chad Campbell were another stroke back at 4-under. Singh tied for eighth at 3-under.
With Mickelson and Couples paired together, and Woods, Singh and Olazabal giving chase, the final round at Augusta National had all the makings of an epic finish.
Woods was seeking his fifth green jacket, with his father battling cancer back in California. Couples was hoping to become the oldest Masters champion ever six months shy of his 47th birthday — and on the anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ last title, no less.
|
For the others, it was an epic bust.
“It’s a humbling experience out there, because you’re trying so hard,” Couples said. “I just left too many out there.”
Olazabal, the winner at Augusta National in 1994 and 1999, at least made things interesting. Beginning the final round at 2-over, he had birdies on three of his first four holes to post a 32 on the front side.
“When I looked at the leaderboard and saw how the guys were not making a charge, I thought, ‘Well, let’s see how well I can play the back nine,”’ said Olazabal, who played 10 groups ahead of Mickelson.
He shook off a bogey at No. 11 and closed within a shot of the lead with an eagle at the 15th. But he cooled off with a three-putt on the par-3 16th, then had to work to save par on his final two holes.
|
He three-putted from 15 feet for bogey on No. 11, and missed a 12-footer for birdie on No. 12. He missed eagle putts inside 15 feet on both Nos. 13 and 15, and couldn’t make a 10-footer for birdie on No. 14.
He had three three-putts in all, equaling the first three rounds combined and the most Woods could remember in a single round at Augusta.
“I absolutely lost it out there on the greens,” Woods said. “I’ll probably go snap this putter in about eight pieces.”
Singh played well, but was never spectacular. He was at 4-under by the turn, but couldn’t pick up any more ground.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM GOLF |
 Golf Section Front |
| Add Golf headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links