Chevron World Challenge; Tiger vs Graeme on the final day
Hard luck hit Tiger Woods at the last moment of the play-off when he failed to score a point against Graeme McDowell on the extra hole of the Sherwood Country Club in California.
The world number two lost the final tournament of the year and will step into the next season winless. Despite the loss, Woods was happy with his accomplishment. He retrieved his lost swings on the stage of Chevron World Challenge
and performed outstandingly in the 18-man invitational.
Tiger stepped in the final round as a leader with a score of 17-under, but failed to match his earlier stride. He picked up three birdies to draft a scorecard of one-over. Just then, Graeme McDowell charged from behind with four
birdies, hit one more at the closing hole, and forced the game into the play-offs.
The real drama started on the 18th hole of the par-72 course. Tiger rolled a putt to save the par and succeeded. Meanwhile, McDowell perceived the last hole as the final call and rushed a birdie putt 25-feet from the
flag. The ball rolled swiftly making a curve towards the left and fell into the hole. The US Open winner once again declared a victory on the soil of the United States and rose to the position of world number seventh with the prize money.
The winner could not help laughing and why wouldn't he? He has capped 2010 with a fourth title along with the memories of the Ryder Cup. McDowell putted well and told the press, "They're the kind of putts that you make them, and
you can't really believe it afterwards. They were the stuff of dreams - 2010 has been the stuff of dreams. It's been that kind of year."
He further added that he loved the challenge put forward by the world’s greatest golfer. He said that Woods played very well as his revival was evident with the flawless game, which he demonstrated in the first three rounds. Moreover,
Graeme referred to Tiger as invincible and said that for the very first time in 17 years, the veteran seemed human with flaws.
Meanwhile, Woods too was very happy with his game. The 14 time major winner might have lost the title, but he got the positive signal, which meant that his fall was near its end.
Woods told the press, "It was a great week, even though I didn't win. I am proud of today, even though I lost. The way I am playing right now, yeah, I would like to continue playing. Even though I lost and made countless mistakes
in the middle part of the round, it said a lot for me to come back and put my swing back together again."
Mistakes were evident as it was the first time in twelve months that Woods reached the finale: Anxiety made his putter shake and his hands weak. The 34-year-old American had a terrible year and lost all his titles along with the
swings. However, JB Were Masters bought him back from a near career death and the Chevron World Challenge revived him as a player.
Sunday ended with good news for Graeme McDowell, who took a flight home with the grand prize of $1.25 million by changing a deficit of three strokes into a victory. The Irish player won for the second time on American soil and
declared himself as worth any challenge. On the other hand, Tiger Woods gave a fine performance and kept the lead intact for four rounds before losing to the winner.
Woods wore a red polo shirt, which portrayed his confidence as he walked towards the clubhouse with a big smile. 2011 is on its way and chances are that it will bring new opportunities and titles for the man who lost everything
with the year-end.
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