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On the Course Sutton surprised by Woods’ club selection
Posted: Monday March 27, 2000 02:41 PM
By Mick Elliott, Special to CNNSI.com PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Hal Sutton admitted surprise when he saw Tiger Woods reach for his 2-iron on the 18th hole. Woods was one shot down to Sutton, needing a birdie, and one of the biggest bombers in the game was leaving his driver in his bag. Then, just as shocking, Sutton -- the man with the lead -- stepped up after Woods with driver in hand. "Well, yeah, I mean I was really shocked when he pulled out his iron off that tee," Sutton said. "I looked over, saw he had his iron in his hand and immediately the thought that went across my mind was maybe I ought to back off and hit 3-wood. "But then I said, 'Well, you know what, I am not going to hit my 3-wood any further than he is gong to hit his iron. I need the advantage on the last hole. I think I am one of the best drivers in the game, so I am going to play to my strength'. I picked out those trees in the distance, those real light colored trees, and hit it right at 'em."
No. 18The par-3 island-green 17th hole draws most of attention during The Players Championship, but it is the par-4 18th that produces the week's most torment. Last year the 447-yard finishing hole with water down the entire left side ranked as the second most difficult hole of the golf season, behind only the 12th hole at Carnoustie during the British Open. Last year the 18th at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass played to an average of 4.557. This year the average score was 4.511. "You have really got to keep focused till the very end out here, whether you have goofed up 17 or hit it in the water at 18," said Jeff Sluman. "If you lapse again and hit a wild shot in anger or something, you are only going to kill yourself, because the golf course is going to murder you. You are going to hit it back in the water or hit it over in those drops (grass mounds to the right of the green) and end up making a big number."
Some loserTiger Woods did not win and he has made it clear what he thinks about second place -- "It sucks" -- but the $648,000 for second puts Woods over $3.2 million for this season. The runner-up finish also gives Woods three wins and three seconds in seven PGA Tour events this years. He has now either won or finished second in 10 of his last 11 events. "Well, that is what you are always looking forward to is playing consistent golf and giving yourself chances," Woods said. "That is one of the reasons why I tried to improve my game, trying to get it better, give myself chances. I have won my share and I have also lost. But the key is always to put yourself in position. You put yourself in position enough, you are going to win your share."
No delay problemsHaving to return Monday morning to complete the final round didn't cause any Sunday night problems for Tiger Woods. "I had a great evening, I was watching college basketball games," he said. "Then watched my Lakers beating Sacramento. It was nice to see Shaq make a free thrown. I was pretty happy."
First-hand experienceHal Sutton spent the week making a big deal out of reminding the media that Tiger Woods is a good player, "but not bigger than the game." Could it be that Sutton, tagged "the next Jack Nicklaus" when he first joined the tour with immediate success only to later vanish before his recent comeback, sees some of himself in Woods? "I feel for Tiger in a lot of ways," he said. "He is living in a glass cage. He does a spectacular job of handling himself. "We all know what a special player he is. But at the same time, we know, to a small degree I had some of the same expectations put on me and he handles it so very well for such a young man. "Week after week, he is the man to beat. I just caution everybody, including him, that the game is still the biggest person."
ETC.Tom Lehman made bogey at 18 with a three-putt which dropped him from a tie for third into eighth place. The one stroke cost Lehman $70,000. ... For those keeping score at home, 84 golf balls found their way into water at the 17th island-green par-3 hole during the week: 42 on Thursday, 21 Friday, 11 Saturday and 10 during the final round.
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