Golf Capsules
February 27th, 2009 Posted in Golf newsMARANA, Ariz -Tiger Woods had no complaints with his game or his knee, but he had no answer Thursday for Tim Clark of South Africa, who played 16 holes without a bogey and knocked the world’s No 1 player out of the Accenture Match Play Championship.
Woods’ swing looked as good as it did eight months ago when he won the U.S. Open. His knee felt so strong that when Woods discovered his tee shot into the desert on the 15th hole hit a cart path and went out of bounds – a shot that ended any hope of a rally – he chose to walk 350 yards back to the tee instead of accepting a ride in the cart.
He poured in six birdies and constantly put the pressure on Woods throughout a sunny day in the high desert. Clark won, 4 and 2, when he hit his tee shot to 4 feet that Woods conceded for birdie after failing to chip in from off the green.
Phil Mickelson, the No. 5 seed who survived another scare, is the highest-rated player left in a tournament that is now down to 16 players.
Clark, who has four victories around the world but is 0-for-176 on the PGA Tour, next plays Rory McIlroy, the 19-year-old whiz kid from Northern Ireland, who birdied his last two holes for a 1-up victory over Hunter Mahan.
Mayakoba Classic
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico – Bo Van Pelt birdied seven of his last nine holes Thursday for a 7-under 63 and the first-round lead. He started the run with four straight birdies, then birdied three of the final four holes, including about a 2-foot putt to close the round in style.
Chris Riley and Jarrod Lyle opened with 65s. Rookie Scott Piercy, who has three top-25 finishes in four starts this year, was in a group at 66.
Defending champion Brian Gay was tied for 20th at 68. David Toms – the world’s 65th-ranked player, leaving him one spot from making the Match Play field – shot a 70.
