Tiger falters, ends his season winless
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to force a playoff Sunday in the Chevron World Challenge, then made another birdie putt from a little longer away to deny Tiger Woods a victory in his final tournament of the year.
"It's the stuff of dreams - 2010 has been the stuff of dreams," McDowell said.
Woods, despite losing a four-shot lead, was tied for the lead playing the 18th hole at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., when he stuffed an 8-iron inside 3 feet for a sure birdie.
McDowell stayed in the game on the 17th by taking a penalty drop on the 18th tee and escaping with bogey. After Woods' great shot, McDowell answered with an all-or-nothing birdie putt.
In the playoff on the same hole, McDowell coaxed in another birdie putt from about 25 feet. Woods had about 15 feet to extend the playoff, but it missed just right of the cup. "Probably two of the great putts I've made," McDowell said.
It was the first time Woods has ever lost a tournament when leading by at least three shots going into the final round. And it was the first time Woods has lost an event and felt good about himself.
"It was a great week, even though I didn't win," Woods said. "I'm proud of the way I played today, even though I lost."
Woods three-putted twice for bogey early in his round, lost the lead with a double bogey on the par-5 13th, then rallied to give himself a chance. McDowell closed with a 1-under-par 69, while Woods shot a 73 to match him at 16-under 272.
A year ago, McDowell was a last-minute alternate to this tournament when Woods' personal life began to collapse. McDowell finished second and earned enough world-ranking points that he eventually got into the U.S. Open, which he won at Pebble Beach.
Maria Hjorth won the LPGA Tour Championship with a final-round par 72 on the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., to hold off a field that struggled to make par. Hjorth finished at 5-under 283 for the season-ending tournament. Playing partner Amy Yang (74) finished a shot back. Yang made a birdie putt on the 18th from about 15 feet over a ridge, forcing Hjorth to sink an 8-foot putt slightly downhill to save par.
Yani Tseng clinched LPGA player of the year, the first player from Taiwan to do so, despite finishing 5-over for the tournament.
No. 1 Westwood a winner
Top-ranked Lee Westwood won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, closing with a 4-under 68 for an eight-stroke victory in the 12-man event. The English star had a 17-under 271 total at the Gary Player Country Club. - AP
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