Tiger Woods worst finish since 1996, yet Tiger is World Number 1
Tiger Woods, one of the most talented and legendary golfers in US history has not been on top of his form this year thus far. Although the legendary golfer’s number no. 1 spot was under threat by a couple of golfers, but Woods managed to maintain the spot though he never looked like the Tiger Woods he once was.
Woods managed the worst result in the 14 year career that he has had thus far. As a professional golfer, this was his worst finish and one that experts did not expect from a golfer of his class. Woods had won the event seven times and was the defending champion, when this past Sunday the world witnessed Hunter Mahan becoming the new champion.
Tiger Woods has managed to hold on to the World No.1 spot for at least another week even with another US star Phil Mickelson breathing down his neck. This past weekend required Mickelson to finish in the fourth spot or better if he were to become the World No.1 and end the long reign of being the second best US-star golfer. Mickelson, the reigning Masters Champion could only manage to finish in a tied 46th position. Mickelson lost something more important than the 8.5 million dollar prize money and which he surely wants for a long time; the World No.1 spot.
Woods on the other hand is also not anyway near where he once was and has not won a title since last November in the Australia. After his victory in Australia, Woods wife came up with multiple mistresses’ scandal and coupled with this was his bad form that till date according to experts has hindered Woods way to a title.
Woods in his worst performance ever finished at the 78th spot in an 80 man course. “Woods showed no signs of being world number 1” reports said. However, at the end of the day, Woods was number 1 and has managed to be at the spot for more than 5 years. Woods has been able to be in the spot for 269 weeks since June 2005. Though Woods is not in the best of his forms, this legendary golfer is battling one of the worst days of his golfing career.
Mickelson on the other hand was heading to a recovery when suddenly all seemed to go against him. Mickelson managed a bunker in two on the par five second. However, the worse was to come for the world number 2, when Mickelson came up with a hat-trick of bogeys at the sixth and then managed a double bogey six on the ninth hole.
However, earlier in the day Woods had managed to card three birdies, six bogeys coupled with two double bogeys that resulted in Woods finishing at 18 over par the Firestone; one of his worst finishes for the past 14 years thus far. The Firestone Country Club was his favourite course in the PGA Tour where he managed to win on the previous four visits and a US Tour managing a record seven times all in all.
The legendary golfer’s previous worse finish was when he finished tied for the 60th position in 1996 on the occasion when he debuted as a professional at the Greater Milwaukee Open. His finish in the Firestone lines up a difficult path to the Ryder Cup as Woods is outside the automatic qualification spot and with just one event remaining, the form that Woods is in, experts say it is highly unlikely that the golfer will manage to qualify automatically.
However, important news that came up was that Sergio Garcia will be missing the Ryder Cup for sure. The Spanish golfer finished for a tied 22nd position and decided that he would be taking a two months break after the PGA Championship. This ruled out the Spaniards chances of being in the Ryder Cup team. Garcia is one of the key golfers in the European team and maintains a record of fourteen wins, six losses and four halves in the matches he took part in.
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