PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A weekend packed with sharp words between Padraig harrington and Sergio Garcia came into one last showdown Sunday inside the Players Championship, this one staged on the water in a minor, terrifying section of that TPC Sawgrass.
If there was special satisfaction in beating Garcia all over again, Woods kept that to be able to himself. What mattered was having an opportunity to win, closing it out like he does often, and capturing the richest prize relating to the PGA Tour for the first time in a dozen a long time.
"We just go to choose from and play, " Timbers said. "I had an opportunity to win the golf tournament while i was tied for this lead today, and I thought I handled the specific situation well and really played well today to look at really needed to. That's something I'm excited regarding this. "
Woods allowed the end hour to turn in a tense duel by hooking his tee shot into the water on the fourteenth hole for double bogey. But his short performance bailed him out to save par on the 15th and generate a critical birdie on that 16th, and he was solid relating to the final two holes in a 2-under 70.
Garcia was located on the 17th tee chance, staring across to the island green to enjoy Woods make his par. He took aim in the flag with his sand iron and hung his brain when he saw a ball splashed down in need of the green. Then, Garcia hit another one in the water on his technique to a quadruple-bogey 7. The meltdown was finished when Garcia hit his tee shot inside the water on the eighteenth.
"It's always nice to get a chance at beating a No. 1 player globally, but unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to this week, " Garcia proclaimed.
Woods was in a scoring trailer when he watched on TV as Swedish rookie David Lingmerth missed a tough birdie putt that would have forced a playoff. It raced from the cup, and Lingmerth three-putted to get bogey.
He won The Players for the first time since 2001 and grew to be the fifth multiple winner at Sawgrass for the reason that Players moved to this particular former swamp in 1982. It was eventually his 78th career win in the PGA Tour, four except the record held simply by Sam Snead. And it was his first time winning in reference to his girlfriend, Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn, at this tournament.
Lingmerth closed with a 72 and finished two shots behind along with Kevin Streelman (67) in addition to Jeff Maggert, who also was tied for any lead until finding the tank on the 17th for making double bogey. The 49-year-old Maggert birdied the 18th for the 70.
There was a four-way tie for any lead after Woods built his double bogey, as well as the infamous 17th green needed out Maggert and Garcia. After Garcia went on the water twice, Lingmerth missed an 8-foot birdie putt that would have tied him for ones lead.
Given their public sniping at each other over the weekend, it's only fitting that Garcia had the very best chance to beat Trees and shrubs.
Their dispute started Sat when Garcia complained in a very TV interview that his shot within the par-5 second fairway ended up being disrupted by cheers through the crowd around Woods, who was some 50 yards away within the trees and fired them up by removing a fairway metal because of his bag. He said Woods need been paying attention, and yes it became a war for the words the next several days.
"At least I'm authentic to myself, " Garcia retorted. "I figure out what I'm doing, and the crna can do whatever he wishes. "
When they finished the storm-delayed third circular Sunday morning, Garcia secured at it, saying which Woods is "not the nicest guy on excursion. "
Garcia, when asked if although have changed anything about the flap with Woods, sent a reply, "It sounds like I was the theif here. I was a victim. I don't have got any regrets of all sorts of things. "
"When you've got water in front of the green, that's not fun to be short in the green. You know, it's close, " Maggert stated. "What can I claim? A wrong shot with the wrong time and the user gets penalized on this golf course. "
It was with the 17th hole five in years past where Garcia won That Players Championship, when Paul Goydos hit inside the water in a sudden-death playoff. Now, the island green gotten its revenge on him. Garcia hit a wedge and felt he caught it slightly bit thin, which is frequently all it takes.
"That hole has recently been good to me typically, " Garcia said. "Today, the application wasn't. That's the way it can be. That's the kind of hole it is. You've got to adore it for what it is normally. "
Woods earned $1. 71 thousand thousand, pushing his season total to over $5. 8 million just using seven tournaments. This is the 12th season bigger won at least 3 times — that once were the standard of a superb year before he linked the PGA Tour in 1996 — this also was the quickest they have reached four wins inside of a year.
"Sorry, Momma, " he said within the camera. "I think she can have had a heart attack. I was in control of the tournament, and I just strike the worst shot We can possibly hit. "
Typical of Woods right now, there were questions on the subject of where he took your drop — some 255 yards through the hole. NBC Sports analyst Johnny Miller suggested that it was a "borderline" where your dog took the drop. However , Mark Russell, vice president of competition to your PGA Tour, said there was nothing wrong with this drop. Woods conferred along with Casey Wittenberg, who said there would be "no doubt" that Woodlands took the drop inside right spot.
"He asked me just where it crossed, " Wittenberg proclaimed. "I told him I thought it crossed relating to the corner of the bunker, appropriate where he took her drop. And it's all good. "
Woods wound up with a double bogey, and he nearly fell right out of the lead on the 15th until he saved par with an 8-foot putt.
"The taken that turned the tide was the putt concerning 15, " Woods stated. "To go double bogey-bogey would have been huge. But to save a putt there and become some momentum going to the next three holes was significant. "
Woods and Garcia played four tension-free holes Sunday morning to complete the third round, and shook hands without words right after they finished — Woods using a 71, Garcia with a 72 to share the 54-hole lead by means of Lingmerth.
With a three-way tie up, Garcia wound up within the final group because he was initially to play in the beginning of the third round of golf.
He assured Sky Sports, "I'm not travelling to lie, he's not my favorite guy to play using. He's not the best guy on tour. " And be able to he told Golf Funnel, "We don't enjoy every different other's company. You don't really need to be a rocket engineer to figure that out. "
Woods downplayed the attack and said it do not matter who joined him relating to the tee. "I'm tied for the lead, so I'm there. "
And that's where by he usually wins. Woods now is 53-4 in his PGA Tour career when bigger at least a share in the lead going into the end round.
