Woods fades, cites fatigue
Tiger Woods was still the primary attraction Sunday, and drew the biggest gallery by far, but he essentially ran out of gas after a scorching start to the final two rounds.
Woods, who was five under after his first four holes of the third round Saturday afternoon, drifted back into the pack Sunday, shooting a one-over 72 in the final round, with four bogeys offsetting his three birdies. He finished six under for the tournament, tied for 15th. J.B. Holmes won at 14 under.
“I’m tired; that’s why I’m drinking coffee right now,” he said. “I’m a little bit tired. The weather, the long days, and just the temperature, trying to be focused for long periods of time. It took a toll on a lot of us out there today. Well, quite frankly, this entire week.”
Although he got hot on the greens at the start of the third round when he went birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, he was disappointed in his putting overall.
“It was one of the worst weeks I’ve ever had on the greens,” he said. “Six threeputts, I don’t think I’ve ever done that. To have that many three-putts and still shoot six under par. Take away those three-putts, I’m 12 under par. And I make a couple more putts? I’m right in the mix.”
Woods is playing the World Golf Championships in Mexico next weekend, but he wasn’t looking that far ahead.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” he said. “Those clubs aren’t coming out of the travel case.”