Woods levels off to third in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Tiger Woods talked all week about his improved ball control -- then it let him down when he needed it most.

Woods resembled the Tiger of old in the first three rounds at the Abu Dhabi Championship, stringing together a trio of rounds below par before shooting an even-par 72 in Sunday's finale to finish in a tie for third place behind winner Robert Rock and U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.

The 117th-ranked Rock shot 70 for an overall 275 to beat McIlroy (69) by a shot. Woods was a shot further back with Thomas Bjorn (68) and Graeme McDowell (68). The 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero (69) and George Coetzee (70) of South Africa were another shot back.

"Today, I just didn't give myself enough looks at it," Woods said. "Most of my putts were lag putts. I didn't drive the ball in as many fairways as I should have . . . It was a day I was just a touch off the tee and consequently, I couldn't get the ball close enough."

Woods, a 14-time major winner, appears to have recovered from a two-year victory drought in which he was sidelined by injuries and personal turmoil. But Woods must now face the fact that, at age 36, there are plenty of players -- known and unknown -- who can potentially beat him.

Woods said he has been steadily improving -- hitting a high percentage of fairways and greens until yesterday and putting much better.

"There's plenty of big events to go, but I'm pleased at the progress I've made so far," said Woods, who won the Chevron World Challenge last month. "I just need to keep building, keep getting more consistent, and today was a day where I putted beautifully. Just didn't give myself enough looks."

Coming into yesterday, Woods was tied for the lead with the unheralded Rock and was the clear favorite to win.

"It's pretty hard to believe that I managed to win today. Very surprised," the Englishman said. "A couple of birdies made the day feel a little bit easier . . . But it's difficult playing with Tiger. You expect almost every shot to threaten to go in."