Tiger has field right on his tail
HOYLAKE, England – One of these days, Tiger Woods actually may lose a major that he leads after 54 holes.
If that day is today, if that tournament is this year’s British Open, it will be because Woods is being chased by some of the biggest names and best talent in the game. The final round at Royal Liverpool, where Tiger leads the likes of Sergio Garcia, Chris DiMarco, Ernie Els (all one back) and Jim Furyk (two behind), promises to be electric. And if Woods escapes with his 11th major championship and second straight claret jug, he may never lose one.
Woods should be leading by more than one shot. And his play allowed a total of 14 other players to lurk within five shots of him. But the numbers that stick are these: The man is 10-0 when he’s led a major going into Sunday (34-3 in all PGA events).
“Well, I’ve done it before and that’s the thing,” Woods said after he birdied the final hole for a 1-under-par 71 on the day to finish three rounds at 13-under 203. “It always gives you confidence.”
So how do Tiger’s pursuers get those numbers out of the heads today?
“I don’t think we have it. I think it’s you guys who keep bringing it up,” said DiMarco, who shot 69. “Stats don’t lie. Obviously, he’s a pretty good front-runner and usually he’s got a five- or six-shot lead. (Sunday) he has a one-shot lead.
“With 12 under being second right now, you would have thought he’s 4 or 5 under right now and he’s not,” DiMarco reminded the room. “But the guy has a knack for winning, so it’s going to be tough to beat him.”
DiMarco, Garcia and Els all have been involved in these chases before, both as the guy in second after Saturday or the guy in second after Sunday. Most recently, it was DiMarco losing a playoff to Woods after making up three shots against him in last year’s Masters.
The man who will take the most momentum into today – as well as the most question marks – is Garcia, who matched the course record with a 65 that included a sizzling 29 on the front nine. But Garcia also is a notoriously poor finisher.
DiMarco, meanwhile, probably is the most mentally tough among Woods’ pursuers and he proved that again when, after having slipped to 8 under through 10 holes, he birdied four of the final eight. And he’s obviously playing for the memory of his mother, Norma, who died on the Fourth of July after suffering a heart attack.
Els is the only other player in the top seven who has won a British Open and only Furyk (66) has won any other major. On Saturday, while playing with Woods, the Big Easy held together a round in which he scattered his irons everywhere, the way Woods often does on days when he hasn’t brought his A-game.
“I have got to be pleased with my position,” Els said after a final birdie gave him a 71. “I could be out of it by now. I could easily have shot a 76 or something like that and I somehow find myself one shot off the lead.”
Like his fellow challengers, Els was surprised that Woods didn’t extend his lead. Now their task is to go and get it back from him.