MARANA, Ariz. — Tiger Woods faced another pivotal putt on the 17th hole, this one from only 12 feet, the stakes much higher Saturday afternoon than the signature 35-foot eagle putt he made three days earlier in the Accenture Match Play Championship.
Typical of his year, success was inevitable.
Woods with a putt to win is becoming like Michael Jordan taking the last shot, David Ortiz at bat in the bottom of the ninth.
“It’s fun to have opportunity, whether you succeed or fail,” Woods said. “Luckily over my career, I’ve succeeded more than I’ve failed.”
Call this another success, and another trip to the finals.
Woods’ birdie on the 17th carried him to a 2-up victory Saturday over defending champion Henrik Stenson, putting him in the 36-hole final match against Stewart Cink, whose flawless front nine gave him a 4-and-2 victory over Justin Leonard.
“Every match is its own little battle,” said Woods, who won for the 22nd time in his last 25 matches at the event. “One of the things I learned from my dad is in match play, you have 18 battles. You’ve just got to win more than they do.”
This was a fight that went the distance, typical of Stenson, who played at least 18 holes in all five of his rounds. The big-hitting Swede never led, but he was never far away, and when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th, it was all square with two holes to play.
Woods never blinked.
His 5-wood from the fairway was pulled and landed near the edge of the bunker, leaving him an uphill, sidehill lie that he was thrilled to get within 12 feet of the cup. Stenson found the rough, laid up and hit a poor wedge that took birdie out of the picture.
“I’ve been in that position before,” Woods said. “I’ve played umpteen more matches in match play than he has. And I’ve seen it all.”
Woods already has won 14 times in 25 starts at the World Golf Championships, but a victory today would be the first time he has held all three titles, having won the CA Championship and Bridgestone Invitational last year.
He faces Cink, a friend and foe from college, who has proved to be no pushover this week.
Cink has 33 sub-par holes in the 80 he has played over five rounds, and only once has he been extended to 18 holes. He was brilliant against Leonard, shooting a 29 on the front nine for a 4-up lead.
