US PGA Championship - Bunker Mentality: Fear the wounded Tiger

Eurosport - Thu, 20 Aug 11:56:00 2009

Who saw that coming? Tiger Woods, golf's ultimate closer, out-duelled on a Sunday by a 37-year-old farmer's son who rarely stays around for the weekend at the Majors - yeah right.

Tiger Woods reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 13th green during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at the Hazeltine National Golf Club AP - 0

But happen it did. And while Yang Yong-eun was busy lifting his bag over his head in cartoon-like celebration, the world number one did a passable impression of a jilted teenager watching somebody else dance with his girl.

Never before had a red-shirted Tiger lost out at the Majors after taking a lead into the final round. Never before had he misread so many short putts. And never before had he looked so vulnerable, so exposed, on golf's biggest stage.

Yang's victory was as emphatic as it was unexpected. Having gone ahead with a chipped-in eagle at the 14th he stuttered just once - at the 17th - but regrouped to birdie the last and resign Tiger to a crushing three-shot defeat.

As the first Asian man to win a Major championship, Yang will dine out on this victory forever and quite possibly inspire a generation to follow in his wake. But like the three Majors that came before it, this year's US PGA Championship will be remembered for what could have been.

Tiger's defeat has predictably prompted many to question his credentials as a genuine threat to Jack Nicklaus's haul of 18 Major titles. "He's not the player he once was," they're saying. "He might not get there after all."

But they're wrong. Tiger has returned from major surgery this year to win five tournaments and finish in the top six at the three of four Majors. That's hardly the form of a man in decline.

Moreover, he's swinging well, hitting it miles and has lost none of the phenomenal desire that will ultimately see him past Jack's mark and beyond.

And it's not the first time in his career Tiger has gone 0-for-4 at the Majors. After winning the 2002 US Open he went 10 big ones before donning the green jacket at Augusta three years later. And I seem to remember him doing pretty well after that.

Then there's the 2010 Majors calendar to consider. After Augusta, the US Open lands at Pebble Beach before the world's best park up at the home of golf, St Andrews. Now there are two courses that Tiger rather enjoys.

So don't be surprised if the big cat returns for the best year of his career in 2010. Grand Slam anyone?

US PGA Tour Wyndham Championship LIVE coverage from 7pm on Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd August on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Will Tidey / Eurosport

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  1. We the golfing fans all know what Tiger can do. No­ question about it. This day, wasn't his day and­ only Tiger knows what happened. We can assume many­ things but give him a break because he won more majors­ and others than most professional golfers that have­ been in the game for ages. I believed that we the­ golfing fans will see something great when the new­ season comes around next year. He's still the man­ to beat for years to come.

    From pinaula.jose, on Fri 21 Aug 9:39AM

  2. Did Yang win the match, or did Tiger hand it over? In­ my opinion, it's a combination of both. Yang played­ -2 under par through 18 holes, which is much better­ then anyone who has been paired w/Tiger has done in a­ Major that I can recall off the top of my head. On the­ flip side, not sure I remember the last time Tiger shot­ a 3 OVER PAR in the FINAL ROUND when he's had the­ lead. Sure, he may not have been 'aggressive'­ on either Friday/Saturday, but if he could have just­ played PAR GOLF, we're looking at a playoff at­ worst case. Yes, it's hard to imagine that a 14­ & 0 record has come to an end but in all of sports,­ all the greatest streaks eventually have fallen...some­ have just been a little hard to swallow when you­ consider 'who' the other person and/or team was­ the ended the streak to begin with. I'm beginning­ to think that out of all the great courses Tiger has a­ strangle hold on...Hazeltine ain't one of­ them..this is the 2nd consecutive PGA (At Hazeltine­ he's played since turning pro) he had a chance to­ win...and came 'oh just so close' to winning. ­ who knows though??

    From Mr S, on Fri 21 Aug 7:15AM

  3. excuse me . da ya mind if i play thru .

    what a buncha­ @#$%. tigre got beet fair an sqaure but tha writers­ cant write tha truth or tha sponsors will get pi ssed.­ hes a spoilt clown that shooda been slapped 10 years­ ago. what a pr*ck not ta have putted out an given tha­ lad a chance for a real victory celebration . not­ tigres way . if he dont get tha attention than nobdy­ shood. have ha evar seen any one throw clubs like tigre­ at tha Open . what a embarrsament . this is our golf­ legend . ya never saw jack throwin helicopters when he­ was golfin

    From Francis S, on Thu 20 Aug 9:26PM

  4. Reason he lost was he didn't attack in round­ three,if he had his lead would have been unassailable­ so its all down to his planning.Linksman.

    From bungie, on Thu 20 Aug 5:52PM

  5. the bubble has burst,he will struggle now

    From PAUL P, on Thu 20 Aug 5:23PM

  6. At last - he has ceased to hypnotise the rest of the­ field. I think this defeat will have a huge impact on­ Tiger. I have watched him come under pressure the last­ three events, two of which he has won admittedly, but­ he has become twitchy under pressure and I was not­ surprised by his demise in the PGA. I do not think he­ was deliberatly ill mannered in not putting out etc he­ was just totally out of the usual situation. Jack­ Nicklaus, 19 times second in Majors, knew how to lose,­ and this is perhaps something that Tiger will have to­ come to terms with in order to gain the respect the­ rest of his career deserves. He may well beat­ Jack's record, but one thing is sure, it is going­ to become a whole lot harder to do so..

    From ten2oneplus, on Thu 20 Aug 1:41PM

  7. Completely agree. I was gutted when he gave a 2 shot­ lead away, but he didn't make a putt all day which­ was amazing whilst Yang played the game of his life.­ Tiger is only 33 and way ahead of Jack at the same age.­ Providing he remains dedicated and focussed, he has at­ least another 10 or so years, that's 40 majors and­ it's unthinkable that he won't win at least 10­ of those.

    From Robin, on Thu 20 Aug 12:31PM
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