For a time during this weekends Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, it looked as though Tiger Woods would win his first official event in 26 months.
His shot was steady and his play was solid after the first three rounds making only two bogeys heading into the final round on Sunday.
Unfortunately the Tiger Woods we’ve all been accustom to the past 26 months returned as he managed to hit just five greens (after hitting hit 46 of 54 through 54 holes) during the final round. He also had three bogeys Sunday finishing with an even-par 72.
Again another disappointing day for Woods who was poised to win his first official major event since the 2009 Australian Masters. Instead Englishman Robert Rock came out on top finishing at -13 under.
Five years ago you have to wonder heading into the final day of an event, with the lead would Tiger Woods have blown a lead like this? Furthermore, John Hawkins of the Golf Channel wonders whether or not Tiger has officially lost that intimidation factor?
Sticks and stones can break your bones, but Robert Rock? The Englishman’s victory while playing in the final group with Woods provided additional evidence: the Dude in the Red Shirt isn’t the same intimidating beast he once was on any given Sunday. As invincible as Tiger looked in firing a third-round 66, there were several others who had moved to the top of the leaderboard with similar scores. A day later, with the game on the line, Woods looked a lot like any other tour pro.
I have downplayed the theory that Eldrick Almighty no longer scares his opponents into competitive submission, but Abu Dhabi has me second-guessing myself. Rock looked utterly unfazed during his battle with the 14-time major champion. If his body language wasn’t quite as aggressive as that of Y.E. Yang, who knocked off Woods at the 2009 PGA, the final result and how it came about were very much the same.
Now there’s no question that Woods’ swing looks to be getting better and he is in a far better position than where he was six months ago. The general consensus on him being a lock taking a lead into the final round though is over.
Ref: Golf Channel (image), ESPN