Not this time.
Tiger Woods had navigated the par-4 sixth hole at Royal Lytham better than anyone during the first three rounds of the 2012 British Open. Woods had birdied the hole in his first three visits, even sinking a 60-foot putt on Saturday.
When he could have used a birdie most, however, No. 6 took back everything. Woods began the fourth round at the Open Championship five shots behind leader Adam Scott, who got off to a rough start on Sunday as he looked for his first major tournament win of his career. If Woods could continue his domination of sixth hole then perhaps he could add a career first of his own to his resume: He has yet to come from behind on Sunday to win a major.
Not this time.
After getting his ball into the fairway off the tee, Woods' second shot found the bunker. Perhaps bolstered by his amazing chip out of the bunker on 18 on Friday, Woods was set to work in the sand. After failing to get the ball out with his first attempt, he practically got on his knees to get a better -- albeit unconventional -- angle for his fourth stroke. Finally lifting the ball out onto the green, Woods left his long putt for bogey a few feet short. After missing a close 4-foot putt for double bogey, he tapped in for triple.
Even with Scott not playing with the consistency of previous rounds, Woods' hopes were dashed by his debacle on the sixth hole. Of course, Woods would turn out to be the least of Scott's concerns. Closing the day with a string of four straight bogeys, Scott was overtaken by Ernie Els on the back nine. Needing to make a 7-foot putt for par on 18 just to force a playoff, Scott rolled his shot just beyond the cup.
Related
Before You Go
