THOUSAND OAKS- Tiger Woods’s miserable year ended with more disappointment as he gave up a four-stroke lead and suffered a crushing playoff loss to Graeme McDowell in the Chevron World Challenge today.
It marked the first time that Woods, without a win since the 2009 Australian Open, lost a tournament in which he led by at least three strokes going into the final round at Sherwood Country Club.
Under pressure from U.S. Open champion McDowell, Woods let his grip on the lead slip in his own event with a double bogey on the 13th that the Northern Irishman birdied for a two-stroke lead.
But McDowell’s advantage slipped away as he bogeyed twice to send the pair into the final hole on level terms.
Both players birdied, McDowell sinking a difficult 25-foot putt and then Woods keeping his nerve with a three-footer that sent the pair into a sudden-death playoff.
Returning to the 18th, McDowell hit a tree but had a decent lie and was able to find the green with his second and he again drained a putt from over 20 feet to leave Woods putting for a birdie to stay in the playoff.
“I fought hard today … it was close, we had a good battle again – I felt right, I was right there,” said Woods. (Reuters)
