CARLSBAD, California, 2 March 2004 — Tiger Woods shrugged off some early erratic play Sunday to retain his Match Play Championship crown and pass Gene Sarazen and Tom Watson on the US PGA Tour’s all-time victory list.
Woods sprayed his drives all over the place in the morning’s 18 holes but used a hot putter to stay in touch then came from behind to beat fellow American Davis Love 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final of the prestigious World Golf Championships event.
Woods, who claimed his eighth title in 14 official WGC events, was 1-down after 18 holes and would have been further behind had he not won the par-five 18th in the morning.
Love must have felt uneasy at lunch as Woods undertook a quick session on the range after hitting some wild tee shots and finding just seven fairways in the morning’s 18 holes.
Inevitably, Woods quickly applied the heat in the afternoon. With an assist from a heckler who helped get Love off his game, Woods charged to a three-up lead after 27 holes and was never headed.
Love didn’t make a birdie in the second round and didn’t win a hole, while Woods did not drop a shot.
Love’s cause wasn’t helped by a heckler who yelled, “No Love,” several times before Love had him ejected on the 23rd hole. “He didn’t deserve to watch golf,” Love said. “The second hole this afternoon, he rattled me, which was his intent.”
But the heckler had nothing to do with the birdies Woods made to win the 25th and 26th holes. And when Love lost the 27th with a bogey, it was almost game, set and match.
Love had one last chance to make a contest of it, only to miss a four-foot birdie putt at the 29th hole. In fact, they halved the final seven holes with pars as Woods did what he had to do and no more.
Woods, who improved his record in five WGC-Match Play appearances to 20-3, said he played much better last year, when he beat David Toms in the final.
In the 18-hole match for third, Ulsterman Darren Clarke won the final two holes to beat Australian Stephen Leaney 2-up. Clarke will join Woods in Dubai, a 12-hour time change from California.
Slocum Wins as Baddeley Bogeys Final Hole
In Tucson, Arizona, Heath Slocum and Aaron Baddeley battled all day, Slocum emerging with the victory at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson after Baddeley bogeyed the 18th hole.
Slocum of the United States and Australia’s Baddeley were never separated by more than a stroke on Sunday as they ducked it out for the $540,000 first prize in the $3 million tournament.
Baddeley made his first three-putt in the 72-hole tournament at the 18th. But it didn’t take away from Slocum’s joy.
Slocum fired a seven-under-par 65 to finish at 22-under 266. Baddeley carded a 66 and ended up at 267, settling for the $324,000 second prize. Slocum tied for sixth place here in 2002. He led going into the final round but fired an even-par 72 to fall back.
Rory Sabbatini of South Africa, Harrison Frazar and Mark Hensby of Australia shared third place at 18-under 270 over the 7,109-yard, par-72 Omni Tucson National Golf Club.
Slocum birdied the first four holes Sunday, but Baddeley stayed close with three birdies in that span. They both birdied five holes on the front nine and headed to the back side even at 20-under. With a birdie at the 10th hole, Slocum took the lead by a shot, but Baddeley drew even with a birdie at the 11th. The Aussie moved on top with a birdie at the 14th, but Slocum caught him at 22-under with a birdie at the 16th. Slocum hit his second shot at the 18th hole 15 feet past the pin. Baddeley then knocked his approach 42 feet left of the cup and put his birdie try six feet past the hole. After Slocum two-putted for par, Baddeley missed a six-footer to give away his first PGA Tour title.
