Tough day at the office: Tiger finished 18 over at the Bridgestone InvitationalOne American likened it to a New Orleans funeral, and as the massive crowds followed mournfully and - it should be said - supportively behind the suffering figure of Tiger Woods at Firestone yesterday, it represented a perfect allegory.
Another day, another mighty slip from the colossus who was once the most dominant figure in sport.
After whistling Dixie for four days at the Bridgestone Invitational, Woods headed immediately for Whistling Straits, site this week of the season’s final major, the US PGA Championship.
‘I’ve probably got time to fit a practice round in and still see the leaders here finish up on TV,’ he said, before disappearing into his grey courtesy car.
It would come as no surprise if this major proves the last we see of Woods for some time. The Ryder Cup? ‘I’d be no help to the team playing like this. No-one would help the team if they’re shooting 18 over par,’ he said, sounding for all the world like a man paving the way for his exit from consideration for Celtic Manor.
Striking out: Woods round included his ball hitting a spectator in the face on 15thWho knows what’s bothering Woods off the course, and has caused the complete dismantling of his concentration, but there really is not much point carrying on until it is sorted out.
His 72 holes here were embarrassing for him, and excruciating for the many fans who followed him.
Woods claimed he wasn’t shocked by performing so badly, which didn’t square with the man who made such optimistic noises on the eve of the event about playing his way into America’s Ryder Cup team.
When asked why he wasn’t surprised, he said: ‘It’s been a long year, ’ before repeating the comment for emphasis.
There is always a deep sadness watching a top-class athlete perform during the dying of the light and while the hope remains that we’ll see something of the greatness within at some point in the future - he is, after all, only 35 - it is quite apparent that what he needs most of all is time.
You get none in the unforgiving spotlight of sport at this level, where all the technical faults and mental agonies are laid bare.
None of it was good, but there were stretches of holes that were watching-through-the-fingers-of-the-hands stuff.
Take the 14th, where he took four from the edge of the green for a double bogey. Or
the 15th, where he hit a spectator in the face with another wild blow, causing blood to be spilled.
Or the 16th, where his third shot found the water in front of the putting surface for another double. Woods suffered this ritual humiliation with impeccable dignity. On the 15th he sought out the injured spectator and handed over a signed glove.
There were a number of spectators who expressed undying loyalty at various points along his error-strewn path and after each there was either a nod in their direction or a lifting of his cap.
For the first time in three days he spoke after his round, which was something in itself given the litany of worst-ever stats he had accumulated during the most horrible
week of his pro career.
In the rough: Mickelson had the opportunity to topple Woods at the top of the golf rankings - but failedFor the record, tied 78th represented his worst finish in 218 72-hole tournaments in America.
His previous worst in an event in which he had completed four rounds was tied 60th in the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open - which just happened to be his first event as a
pro.
His total of 298 was his worst score by six shots. Woods didn’t look for excuses.
The only time he could remember struggling like this was in 1998 when he met up with coach Butch Harmon and tore his swing apart.
‘The only positive thing I can say about this week is that I stayed patient, and unfortunately that is nowhere near enough,’ he said. The one consolation was that he held on to his world No 1 spot.
After all the expectation regarding the fact three players had a realistic shot at reaching top spot, what we had in reality is that Lee Westwood had to pull out with injury, Tiger played like a drain and Phil Mickelson blew his big chance yesterday.
He needed a tied-fourth finish to topple Woods after 257 weeks in second spot, but the pressure proved too much as he disappeared without trace after a truly awful front nine of 41.
Leading after 11 holes was Hunter Mahan on 11 under.
source: dailymail
