Lucky 13 for Tiger at Doral

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 CA Championship | Wrap | 26 Mar 2007

Twelve majors and now thirteen World Golf Championship titles all in the space of ten years.

Tiger Woods’ two shot victory at the WGC CA event in Miami today added yet another significant title to Woods’ amazing list of victories and while there were times during the course of the last round when even he struggled, the rest of the field were also battling the Blue Monster and the blustery winds that swept across the Doral Resort and Spa.

After the last round disaster at Bay Hill last week where Woods recorded a final nine holes of 43, there was reason to believe that perhaps his game was not in good enough shape to win this week but Woods has often shown a capacity to right the ship very quickly and this week he did just that. His second round of 66 took him to a two shot lead after 36 holes and by the time he had completed a third round of 68 it would be a brave man to suggest that Tiger was capable of being beaten.

It was not all plain sailing today but for the rest of the field, with the possible exception of the stunning round of 67 by Robert Allenby, no-one else was finding it easy either. Of the 72 players who played the final round only four players were able to break 70 and Allenby’s round of 67 saw him move from 21st to a share of third.

Wetterich had missed a golden opportunity at the 17th to reduce the margin to just two with one to play but missed from 9 feet. At that point Woods had a three shot lead but the last at the Blue Monster is not known as one of the toughest finishing holes in golf for nothing and Woods was not about to take any chances. Knowing a five would win the tournament Woods hit an iron from the tee and then laid up well short of the green with his approach. He was still left with 110 yards for his third. This was still not an easy pitch as the water lay in wait short of the pin and beyond would leave a difficult putt. It became even more demanding when Wetterich hit his second to 8 feet and had a chance to make three.

All Woods needed to do therefore was to make five but when he hit his pitch 50 feet past it was going to be a lot easier said then done. Earlier in the day Mark Calcavecchia had putted his ball into the water from a similar spot but Woods hit the most perfect of putts to just over two feet and appeared to have done enough. He avoided the embarrassment of a costly late blunder when Wetterich left his putt from eight feet short. Woods had two to win but took only one and his 56th title on the USPGA Tour.

When asked later about his decision at the final hole to play conservatively from the tee, Woods reminded the interviewer of a similar approach he took at Firestone in the WGC event there. There was nobody he needed to convince however as he had once again dominated. When asked how he felt about his form leading into Augusta he responded by saying, “Very pleased”, which should sound a warning signal to anyone who fancies their chances of beating him in two weeks time.

Wetterich not only significantly closed the gap on Tiger over the closing round but he did so in the presence of perhaps the most daunting playing partner in the game. Wetterich, who played Ryder Cup in 2006 after his win at the EDS Byron Nelson event in 2006 earned him qualification for the team that lost to Europe, was impressive and he just keeps getting better. The paycheck of US$800,000 is his second highest payday after the first place purse he received for his win in Dallas last year.

Robert Allenby’s great last round earned him a share of third place with Geoff Ogilvy and a resurgent Sergio Garcia who seems to be finding form at the right time. Allenby has had a brilliant start to the season with his result today giving him his 6th top ten in seven strokeplay starts.

Ogilvy also has his game in great shape heading into the Masters and with a debut 16th in 2006 he will be chomping at the bit to get to Augusta.

Nick O’Hern is another with chances at Augusta and his percentage game was again to the fore this week. He will be disappointed that he did not take advantage of a quick start today but he has once again displayed a game that is perfect for the demanding style of golf courses that Major golf present. Aaron Baddeley made up the four Australians who finished in the top ten this week, continuing a great season for him to date. He is showing a level of consistency not previously evident in his game.

Rod Pampling faltered after a good start to the event to finish 28th, Stuart Appleby was 35th, Nathan Green 58th and Adam Scott, a last round of 80 providing some concern so close to Augusta, finishing 61st in the 72 man field.

The PGA Tour now heads to Houston for the Shell Houston Open before Augusta the following week.

Photo – Anthony Powter