Tiger Woods is Human, One More Tiger to Go

“Hooks and Slices” will bring you our view on whats happening in the golf world.

The unthinkable happened yesterday at the WGC Match Play Championships, Tiger Woods lost. Yes, believe it or not he is human. He actually makes bogeys and even hits balls out of bounds like a mere mortal. Tiger started losing it to the right just when Tim Clark birdied three straight at holes 11-13.

No Trophy This Year

Clark has been bogey free for the tournament, was 6 under for 16 holes and closed out Woods 4-2. Woods has 65 career PGA Tour wins, Clark has zero. Tiger is home with his baby by now and Clark is still playing. Match play is a beautiful thing. Clark gets to slay another tiger tomorrow; Rory McIlroy, the Celtic Tiger. McIlroy, the hottest Irish import since Guinness, birdied eighteen to win over Hunter Mahan. He is playing more like a Tiger than a 19 year old in his first WGC event. There were many exciting matches in round two. Phil Mickelson did his best “Ground Hog Day” imitation when he tried to blow a 4 up with 5 to play lead for the second day in a row. Stewart Cink and Lee Westwood went 23 holes before Cink claimed the victory. The hottest golfer may be Camilo Villegas. He has won with scores of 7-6 in round one and dispatched Mr. Cool, Miguel Angel Jimenez, 5-4 in round 2.

Note to the Golf Channel: At least with Tiger Woods on his couch now, the Golf Channel will be forced to show other golfers. It took close to an hour into their broadcast to even get one shot of the Villegas/Jimenez or the McIlroy/Mahan match. There was too much of the boys in the booth, too much of Tiger preparing to play and no need for old footage of Tiger and Clark playing in an old WGC event. There are golfers on the course playing! Why would we need to see old footage? Even with all their focus on the Woods/Clark pairing, they still missed a tee shot of Woods and showed it with the disclaimer, “This was a little earlier.” My God…a recorded Tiger shot! That is probably the first time that happened since he was on the Mike Douglas Show when he was two years old.

Round three has some compelling match ups, and since I was so good predicting round 2, a pathetic 8 of 16, I’ll try may luck with round three. I’m bound to get one right, I hope.

Luke Donald finished strong and I think he will take down Ernie Els.

Phil Mickelson still has enough magic to get past Stewart Cink. I really think Stewart will win, but I am rooting for Phil to find his game for 18 holes.

Jim Fury, one of the steadiest guys on tour will beat Ross Fisher.

Justin Leonard beats Oliver Wilson, not Owen or Luke, Oliver Wilson that is.

Tim Clark makes it two Tigers in a row when he beats Rory McIlroy. He’ll still be hitting into the greens first and still making plenty of birds.

The eventual WGC winner may come from the Ogilvy/Villegas pairing. Spiderman is playing great and all Ogilvy does is win, quietly. It’s a tossup. I’ll go with Ogilvy. Can Villegas stay that hot much longer?

Sean O’ Hair and Ian Poulter are two players with a world of potential. Poulter wins in a close one.

Paul Casey romped in round two and seems ready to keep it going. He beats Peter Hanson to make it to the final four.