ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Tiger Woods talked all week about his improved ball control — then it let him down when he needed it most.
Woods resembled the Tiger of old over the first three rounds at the Abu Dhabi Championship, stringing together a trio of rounds below par before shooting an even 72 in Sunday’s finale to finish in a tie for third behind winner Robert Rock and U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.
The 117th-ranked Rock shot 70 for an overall 275 to beat McIlroy (69) by a shot. Woods was a shot back with Thomas Bjorn (68) and Graeme McDowell (68). Matteo Manassero (69), an 18-year-old Italian, and George Coetzee (70) were another shot back.
“Today I just didn’t give myself enough looks at it,” Woods said. “Most of my putts were lag putts. I didn’t drive the ball in as many fairways as I should have. It was a day I was just a touch off the tee, and consequently I couldn’t get the ball close enough.”
Coming into Sunday, Woods was tied for the lead with the unheralded Rock and was the clear favorite to win. Rock had only one victory under his belt compared with 83 for Woods worldwide, but it was Rock — battling his nerves over playing alongside one of his golfing idols — who held it together down the stretch.
“It’s pretty hard to believe that I managed to win today. Very surprised,” the Englishman said. “I played good. So I guess I had a chance from early on, a couple of birdies made the day feel a little bit easier.”
