Houston, Els may have a problem
ORLANDO — Ernie Els will have to win the Houston Open to avoid missing his first Masters since 1993.
The Big Easy was in position for a solo third place that would have punched his ticket to Augusta but a bogey on 17 after hitting his approach shot into the muck derailed his chances.
“Obviously, you go into a week . . . a fourth place . . . you’d probably take it. But it was a bit of bittersweet there again. I had a lot of chances today and kind of blew it a little bit.”
GRAEME CRACKERS
Runner-up Graeme Mcdowell shot 74 but says he’s “very excited” about his game as he heads to the Houston Open and then the Masters.
“Second place at a big event really sets up my spring season into the summer,” he said. “I felt my game bubbling up under the surface nicely and I’m very happy with a lot of the golf shots I hit this week.”
Mcdowell said Sunday was “a case of me playing average and he (Woods) playing well.”
PICTURE OF COOL
Woods’ caddie, Joe Lacava, had a feeling Saturday night that his boss knew he was going to win.
Woods suffered a double bogey on the 15th hole after a woman screamed during his backswing and Lacava was impressed the way he shook it off.
“I saw a calmness last night on the range,” he said. “I’m sitting there frustrated because I saw what happened on 15. He didn’t let it bother him. He heard what happened and understood the situation but I’m his caddie and I was frustrated. He had a great calmness on the range. He hit balls til dark and you could sense he knew he was going to play well today.”
CREDIT DUE
Woods’ coach, Sean Foley, ducked out quickly after the round, wanting Woods to get all the attention.
“We have a long way to go and he knows that,” he said. “But I’m so pleased for him. This was a tough day. He’s putting in the work and will continue to do so.”
WAY UNDER
In Woods’ seven wins at Bay Hill, he’s held the 54-hole lead six times. He is now 38-2 when holding an outright 54-hole lead.
The only exceptions are the 1996 Quad Cities Classic and the 2009 PGA Championship. Woods is now a collective 108-under par in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.