Golf

Tiger rethinking strategy

Woods, trailing by two, has never come from behind to win a major.

By BOB HARIG
Published June 17, 2007

OAKMONT, Pa. - The record books are filled with dozens and dozens of accomplishments, his resume more glittering than any player of his generation. At age 31, Tiger Woods has put up some impressive numbers, topped by his 12 major championships.

But one thing Woods has never done is come from behind to win one of golf's Grand Slam events.

That is what will be required today at Oakmont Country Club if he is to move within five of Jack Nicklaus' haul of major hardware.

Woods shot 1-under-par 69 Saturday during the third round of the 107th U.S. Open and is two strokes behind Australia's Aaron Baddeley. In each of his major victories, including two last year, Woods held at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

"I'm right there and that's what I'm pleased about, " he said.

To simply say that Woods shot 69, however, is a huge injustice to his round. He played well enough to match Johnny Miller's 63 at Oakmont in 1973. Woods hit every green in regulation until 18, where his drive into a fairway bunker led to his only bogey of the day. Nobody else hit more than 12 greens.

Woods made two birdies and 15 pars, missing at least six birdie putts inside 15 feet. Each round has seen only two golfers in the 60s; the other Saturday was by 40-year-old Steve Stricker, who holed out from 74 yards for birdie on the 18th hole in a round of 68.

"Obviously it could have been really low but on these greens. ... Yeah, I probably had two or three putts that I probably could have made, " said Woods, who tied briefly for the lead on the back nine. "I'd be miffed at myself if I hit bad putts, but I hit good ones, so that's just the way it goes."

Baddeley, 26, shot par 70, escaping trouble at the par-4 17th then knocking in a 10-foot birdie putt at 18 for 2-over-par 212.

A two-time winner of the Australian Open, once as an 18-year-old amateur, Baddeley has one victory in each of the past two years on the PGA Tour. But it took all of one question for Baddeley to be asked about playing in the final group today with Woods.

"I've played with Tiger in two Masters, so I'm going to enjoy it and I feel like my game is good, " said Baddeley, who was born in Lebanon, N.H., but moved to Australia when he was 2. "Tiger is the best player in the world, but I feel like I'm playing well, my swing is good. I hit a lot of nice shots, and I do feel great with the putter."

Baddeley, who leads the field in putting, was in the last group two months ago at the Masters, trailing third-round leader Stuart Appleby by a stroke. Woods grabbed the lead briefly, but finished two behind Zach Johnson, the first time Woods failed to win a major in which he led on the last day.

Bubba Watson, who trailed by one heading into the third round, shot 74 that included triple-bogey 7 at the ninth hole. He fell into a tie for third at 215, three back with Justin Rose 73, Stephen Ames (73) and Paul Casey (72). Second-round leader Angel Cabrera shot 76-216 and dropped into a three-way tie with Stricker and 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk (70).

"There is a lot of golf left out here, and Oakmont can jump up and bite anyone at any time, " Furyk said. "And you keep hoping that you play well and see where it stacks up."

Woods put on an amazing ball-striking display, and he was hard-pressed to find a recent round that compared. He rolled in a birdie putt at the third hole, then barely missed eagle at the fourth that got him to 3 over for the tournament.

From there, it was par after par, with several chances that just grazed the edge of the cup. Until the final hole, he never had a par-saving putt of more than 4 feet.

"I didn't drop a shot until the 18th, which was nice, and that's ultimately what you want to have happen in the U.S. Open, " Woods said. "You have to grind it out and I put myself into position to have a lot of pars, which is good. Pars are never going to hurt you here."

But will they be good enough to get Woods his first major when trailing with 18 holes to play?

Bob Harig can be reached at golf@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8806.

[Last modified June 17, 2007, 00:40:09]