Tiger Woods 4 up after first 18 in World Match Play final, thanks for coming Stewie Cink

MARANA, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2008) - If you wanted drama in the 36-hole championship match of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, you’re out of luck. Unless you were on the courtesy shuttle bus I took in to the course that backed into some rich lady’s car.

Of course, if you expected drama as Tiger Woods took on Stewart Cink just one match play win away from moving to a perfect 3-for-3 in tournaments entered and won in 2008, you’re more delusional than O.J. “This is a citizen’s arrest memorabilia seizure” Simpson.

Tiger wasn’t about to lose this final match. It would have been nice if Cink - a great story - played like more of a good golfer though. He shot a match play 71 on the morning 18 in the final. A match play 71 (where everything isn’t putted out and scores are more deceiving than the looks of someone at a bar’s closing time) is like you or I shooting a 91. More accurately, it’s like WorldGolf.com Michigan high school golf legend Brandon Tucker shooting a 91.

Even with the pins put in more difficult positions today, the Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain is arguably the easiest course these pros will play all year. And if it’s not No. 1, it’s definitely in the top five.

Tiger isn’t even playing all that well. A good Tiger would be about nine up right now. You have to love that Tiger’s taken to calling Cink, “Stewie” too. Like he’s sweating someone dubbed Stewie.

Oh well, another 18 to go. Maybe I’ll go look for that mountain lion that’s reportedly been roaming around in the deep shadows.