Tiger Woods hits sand traps, collapses badly, Cink leading

August 29, 2006

The AP is reporting that  Stewart Cink kept plugging away with a few clutch pars and enough birdies that he figured would keep him close to the lead. The surprise came when he glanced at a scoreboard and saw who he was chasing Saturday in the Bridgestone Invitational.
It wasn’t Tiger Woods.
Before long, it wasn’t even Davis Love III.
Cink was steady as Woods and Love took turns stumbling on Firestone South, shooting a 6-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over Woods, Love and Paul Casey of England in a World Golf Championship that quickly turned into a free-for-all.
Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., is tied for 17th place after shooting a 69 to end the third round at 1 under, eight strokes behind Cink. Calgary’s Stephen Ames is nine strokes behind the leader in a tie for 22nd place after firing a 1 over and going into the final round at even par.
“I was a little surprised because it’s Tiger Woods and the way he’s playing lately,” Cink said. “But the way the course is, even the great Tiger Woods can make some bogeys out there.”
Did he ever.
Woods made four straight bogeys – his longest such streak on the PGA Tour in nearly 10 years – and went from a two-shot lead to five shots behind in a span of six holes. He managed a smile at the end of the third round because Love also let everyone back into the tournament by losing a three-shot lead.
“I was lucky to keep myself in the ballgame,” Woods said. “Davis had a chance to run away, but the lead is 9 (under) and I’m only one back. So it’s a big positive.”
Cink has positive vibes two, especially under these circumstances.
His last PGA Tour victory came two years ago at Firestone, a week after he was a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup team. Cink was picked again for the U.S. on Monday, and he finds himself 18 holes away from another victory.
But there’s one big difference this year.
Cink, who was at 9-under 201, had a five-shot lead going into the final round two years ago.
“I’ve got a lot more of a dog fight on my hands,” Cink said. “I don’t control my own destiny nearly as much as I did at that time. So it feels quite differently. The one thing that is a common thread is I’ve played well and putted well this week.”
Love took advantage of Woods’ collapse by running off three straight birdies around the turn to build a three-shot lead, but he gave them all back over the final seven holes, including a three-foot par putt his missed on the 16th. He wound up with a 70.
Woods settled down on the back nine and picked up two birdies for a 1-over 71, ending his streak of 11 consecutive rounds in the 60s and 17 consecutive subpar rounds. All that mattered was being only one shot behind, especially after trailing Love by five shots with eight holes to play in the third round.
Casey finished strong, rolling in a 15-foot birdie on the 16th and stuffing a wedge into four feet for birdie on the 18th to match Cink with a 64, putting him in the final group Sunday with Cink and Woods.
Source: eog.com

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