Woods Seeks To End 2012 Victory Drought

I had to chuckle at the headline of Rex Hoggard's story on Tiger's third round 66 in Abu Dhabi: "Woods on the verge of ending victory drought."  I know the Chevron World Challenge was only an 18 player field, but technically a win is a win, no?

Anyway, Hoggard writes:

Left unsaid was whether Woods’ aura would be worth a half stroke per side the way some believe it used to.

Tiger 3.0 may not inspire angina the way the old model did, but all eyes were on Woods on Saturday. His third-round 66 was his second bogey-free effort this week and moved him into a tie for the lead with Robert Rock and two-strokes clear of all others.

For close observers, Saturday’s 66 may be his biggest accomplishment of the week. Day 3 was the ultimate litmus test for Woods, who ranked 176th in Round 3 scoring on the PGA Tour last year and in November was sent spiraling down the leaderboard by a third-round 75 at the Australian Open.

In short, Saturday’s have been anything but special for the one-time Round 3 specialist.

Comments

[TXQ]

Rex is simply Chevon-challenged.

[TXQ]

Chevron-challenged.

[Matt H]

I'll say it! I think he's going to win! Should get him in the top twenty in the World Rankings, am I right?

Don't tell me he's already there for the win at the "Chevron World Challenge" Chevron World is a lot smaller than the Abu-Dhabi world.

Saw some round two coverage last night and his practice swing looks a little funny, but he's getting to that Jim Furyk and Corey Pavin age where they add lots of quirks to their pre-shot routines. Hope he doesn't become a slow player.

I cannot say I think Tiger is going to win the Masters, but I think he will be shown on TV a lot. Hopefully not punching out of the trees on every hole.

[Market Forces]

yahoo story out there, also citing Rex Hoggard, says Tiger's appearance fee could have been as high as $2.7 million. The story also says the Abu Dhabi event had an appearance fee pool of $5 million, never seen info like that before. Regardless of what the payment was it sure appears that Tiger is delivering the eyeballs and global press coverage.

[Market Forces]

What do you bet this Baylor/Texas game goes to OT?

[smails]

Ok all you writers--which story line am i supposed to care about. Tiger, two major champions and Robert Rock, or three guys i've never heard of plus "the defending Fed Ex Cup champion"?

Appearnance fee looking like money well spent abt now.

[tigers fault]

So I just sat down to watch golf, Saturday afternoon; Torrey Pines. Is this one of those PGA/Nationwide/Q-School thingies? Why doesn't GC shoe replay of Abu Dhabi? How about highlights from the equipment show?

Just sayin.... it's still ...

[tigers fault]

So I just sat down to watch golf, Saturday afternoon; Torrey Pines. Is this one of those PGA/Nationwide/Q-School thingies? Why doesn't GC shoe replay of Abu Dhabi? How about highlights from the equipment show?

Just sayin.... it's still ...

[OWGR Fan]

@Matt H..... If Woods wins this event he may be as high as tenth in the world rankings. He is currently 25th.

[Ghillie]

If Tiger wins, he goes to ten as long as neither McDowell nor Choi is second alone. Whatever he does (and others do) it seems as if he will enter the top 20, and probably quite well even if he is pipped by self or either of the above-named.

[Danny Boy]

It's been a long time coming and there is still one more round to go, but Tiger has looked fairly solid these past three rounds. Going to wake up early for the 4am telecast.

[Tiger's Lair]

Why are people excited about this? He remains a miserable, lying human being who has shown little contrition, and the media continues to just lap up Anything Tiger and Steiny. Here's hoping he chokes on his appearance fee money in Abu Dhabi and his winless streak continues (Chevron ltd field win is a joke)!

[Danny Boy]

Sounds like someone isn't going to be sporting his Nike TW hat if he wins tomorrow...

[g_r_c]

wake me up when tigger has the third round lead in a MAJOR...

[smails]

you mean, like he did on the 9 tee last year?

[ScanNow]

If Kyle Stanley ever bogeys a par 5 he should be put in the penalty box for 30 minutes.

Heard Tiger interviewed a couple days ago and he while the announcer referenced Chevron in his question, Tiger responded about the tourney with an answer that clearly and intentionally omitted the Chevron name.

[PJB]

Fabulous event to attend, will be there again today and am hoping for Robert Rock, who I was lucky enough to play with in a pro am in Dubai a couple of years ago (great guy, totally down to earth) to upstage TW. Many of you may remember his story from last year's US Open - had visa issues, only arrived Washington @ 3am on the first day, few hours sleep, no practice round, result ? Near the lead after round #1, comfortably made cut and something like T25 in his first US major. Legend. Also of note - none other than Sean Foley is a big admirer of RR's technique, apparently paid him a huge compliment on the range @ Congressional last year. Here's hoping the occasion doesn't get the better of him and he - rather than say McIlroy - takes down Tiger.

[AK47]

It was only a matter of time

[benseattle]

Tiger wins or Tiger loses. Yeah... and how the hell is either going to affect MY life? Woody being tied for the lead simply gives Golf Channel more drool to spill on the floor. A win against a handful of ranked players and 70 more complete nobodies would certainly earn Golf Channel the annual Overhyped Moment of the Year Award. For the record, I watched a LOT of both events today and the flat, featureless desert they're playing in the MIdeast just can't hold a candle to the spectacular views and well-defined holes (even on TV!) that we'll be enjoying fro Torrey Pines. And seriously, Woods winning or losing just isn't as interesting a story as watching a crew of ultra-talented 20-somethings on their way up the PGA Tour ladder. Since he's never won, it's silly to predict that Kyle Stanley is a shoo-in but won't that make it even more fun to watch? But don't be surprised if this is a star in the making. Find a weakness, I dare ya.

Tiger Wood is SO "early 2000's." Old news.

[Hawkeye]

If you don't like to watch a Tiger Woods on form, then you don't like golf. He seems healthy again, and if he stays that way he will be a top player for the remainder of the decade. What's old news about that?

[UnderTheChin]

So 2 fairways hit and about 5 greens. Is he back?

[Tim in Hoylake]

Robert Rock wins the tournament; Rory is second by a shot. Swiping some sand for a two shot penalty costs Rory a hundred grand. Brilliant.

[Sari]

Under:

Not yet, but on his way. Last year in Oz, the pressure got to his new move in the 3d round. This tournament, the third round was navigated but not the 4th. I don't care how many times he's done this before, there has to be a lot of self doubt to overcome. Overall the week has to be considered a positive. Although we joke about it, he is right when he says it's a "process."

[elf]

Tiger played ok, didn't put well on Thurs, didn't drive it well on Sunday. His irons and chipping were slightly off all week. He was facing a good field, playing a course that didn't suit his game, for the first time, in his first event in 7 weeks. He finished 3rd.

Let's not make to much of this. Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't.

[TXQ]

I guess some people think it's a real talent to post results of a tourney that's being aired on a delay.

[bonnie banks]

He's not comfortable with his new action yet.
Double-crossed himself all the way down the back nine.

[Sari]

Right Bonnie, and the pressure exposes these things.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

Guess Tiger can't depend on the fear factor any longer.

[elf]

Yawn, he hit it fine under pressure at the Pres Cup and Chevron. Everyone has bad ball striking days/hits bad shots. Not everything means more than what's in front of you. Rock stood up to his nerves, played well and won. Tiger was off his game and lost.

If the intimidation factor meant so much, he would never have lost when around the lead, or at matchplay. And guys on the leader-board choke plenty when Tiger isn't around too.

[Danny Boy]

Woke up early to watch the final round - Robert Rock played a solid round of golf to win. Congrats to him. His birdies at 14 and 16 were impressive, especially, his approach shots. Tiger definitely struggled, but used his short game and putter to grind out a solid finish. Hope this progress is a glimpse of what 2012 will bring. Torrey Pines this afternoon will be fun to watch if Kyle Stanley can lock down his first win, but with all due respect, 11 of the top 25 players in the world were overseas versus six in San Diego. Clearly, a deeper field.

[d.b.cooper]

Another zippo year on the majors, me thinks.

And the Nicklaus record gets further and further away.

[Tim in Hoylake]

Apologies THQ; won't happen again.

[tiger's fault]

@Benseattle -

The next future star throw's up on himself and triples the last...but only after Tiger loses 1/2 a world away.

It's still ....