Tiger, Shark don't disappoint
Woods, Norman put on show in marquee matchup
Posted: Sunday December 13, 1998 02:52 PM
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Woods' win over Norman (left) was one of the few bright spots for the U.S. team AP |
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Never mind that the Presidents Cup was secured by the International team before Greg Norman and Tiger Woods made the turn at Royal Melbourne.
This is the match the Australian crowd wanted, and Woods and Norman put on a show.
Norman and Woods walked down the second fairway in steady rain, the two biggest drawing cards in the game. Norman held the umbrella as he and Woods strode together.
Woods later won the see-saw match 1-up when Norman's 25-foot birdie putt fell short on 18. Woods tidied up with a testing 4-foot putt for par, and the first official match-play singles encounter between the two was over.
"It was nice going head to head with Greg," Woods said. "We both played well and it was a fun match."
Norman agreed, saying the match "was great for golf, and great for us."
"We had about 10 birdies between us, and I came up just one short," said Norman. "You can't get much closer than that. It was a great day."
It was also vintage golf, the way everyone thought it would be. Thousands behind the gallery ropes and many inside -- including ex-President George Bush and former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke -- followed their shots.
Moments after Woods left the shelter of Norman's umbrella to hit his second shot on the second hole, he drilled a four-iron to within 30 feet of the pin. Two putts later, he was in for birdie while Norman, who had found the left-side bunker, had to settle for par.
Woods 1-up.
After halving the next three holes, Woods birdied the sixth, hitting his approach shot to within 10 feet of the pin. Now Woods was 2-up, the biggest advantage he would have all day.
Norman bit back, draining a 40-footer for birdie after Woods' shot into the par-3 eighth was just off the back of the green. On the next par-3 -- the 11th -- Norman hit his tee shot to about 4 feet, but never had to putt when Woods, making one of his rare mistakes on the day, fluffed his wedge from off the green and conceded the hole to Norman.
All square.
The two halved the next two holes, Woods went 1-up with a birdie on 14 and 2-up when Norman bogeyed the 16th. Norman could not win the match from that point, but he wasn't finished.
Woods teed off on 17 and sent a screamer down the center of 17. Norman walked up and knocked it 25 yards past him, then put his approach to 5 feet, where he made birdie to send it to the 18th.
Norman put his tee shot on 18 in the center, while Woods pushed it into the gallery and nearly behind a marquee tent. But with a clear shot to the green, Woods had no problem getting it to within 35 feet and a hopeful two-putt for par and halve the hole.
Norman's birdie attempt failed.
With the match over, Norman and Woods walked toward each other, meeting near the flag. They both put their arms up and grabbed each other by the shoulders, then shook hands.
There was no hug this time. Perhaps next time.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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