If his closing nine holes on Saturday was what we used to expect from Tiger Woods, his opening nine holes on Sunday were what we now seem to look at as regular from the world No. 1.
Tiger, who closed with a 31 on Saturday to help wrap up a much-needed 66 and a spot in the second-to-last group Sunday, went out in 38 to open his final round in the U.S. Open. It was a score that was only made better by a birdie on the short par-3 seventh.
If the putter couldn’t fail late on Saturday, it couldn’t succeed in the final round that was opened with a three-putt bogey at the first, and featured plenty of missed putts throughout.
Tiger had as many bogeys through nine holes as he did pars, and basically played himself out of contention at Pebble Beach.
What has been the most surprising part of Tiger’s Sunday? Maybe that he brought us all back on his bandwagon after that sizzling Saturday that was filled with smiles and fist-pumps, and just as quickly dropped us off with unusual errors both in decision-making and execution.
On the par-5 eighth, Tiger went with a fairway metal off the tee, made a swing and twirled the club, usually an indication he was happy with the result. The problem was, the shot went too far, and Tiger was forced to take a drop that would lead to a bogey, his second on a par-5 this week.
While Woods struggled, little-known playing partner Gregory Havret was going along smoothly, 1-under on his round while being in the middle of the Tiger circus in a major championship. Havret ended up 1-over for his round and the tournament, good for second behind winner Graeme McDowell.
Tiger dropped shots at 10 and 12 before a birdie at 14. He finished with a 75 for the day and 3-over for the tournament, good for a fourth-place tie with Phil Mickelson. So we’ll have to wait another major for Tiger to make a "comeback." The more that come and go without a Woods victory, the more questions will be tossed his way about both his golf and mental state. Sunday, Pebble Beach seemed to be making up for what Woods did to it in 2000.
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