MARANA, Ariz. - Tiger Woods keeps giving his opponents the chance to beat him in the WGC Accenture Match Play. And they keep failing to do it.
Tiger found himself down one to Aaron Baddeley heading into 16. Later, on the green of the first extra hole, the world’s most dominant golfer stood there helpless, certain that Baddeley was going to close him out with a makeable putt.
Instead Woods wins in 20 holes, Baddeley joins J.B. Holmes as losers who would have won if they were playing anyone other than Tiger, if they were playing more loose in the clutch.
“The one on No. 1 (in extra holes), I thought he was going to make it,” Tiger said moments ago.
Maybe against somebody else. Not against Tiger.
Baddeley deserves credit for coming back from what started out as a total disaster. Down two after only two holes, Baddeley - or as I call him BTuck’s boy - found himself with his back up against a cactus on No. 5 after a horrible shot. He avoided getting pricked in his white pants. But then he hit an even worse shot - about two feet.
On holes like that, match play actually works to your advantage. It’s just one hole no matter how badly you blow it and Baddeley seemed to recognize this - no small mental feat.
Of course, then everyone recognized the winner in the end. Again.
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The Accidental Golfer:
Brandon Tucker:
Mark Nessmith:
Jason Scott Deegan:
In the first round match, most people would have entertained thoughts of victory. Perhaps looking at his opponent, J.B. Holmes might have been a touch cautious but even he would never have believed Tiger would claw back in the manner that he did. I guess it is the fear of the Tiger more than anything else that really works on the mind of these players.
The next match should be a very interesting one. K.J. Choi has been playing good golf but then his opponent happens to be Tiger Woods. But if the Korean can back himself and play the golf of his life, he can put it across the great man. We will just have to wait and see.