It meant Woods would not be able to reach the green in two. And he responded by smashing his driver into the ground. It was the thud heard round the golf world. But the primary reason Woods lost was because his putter produced no birdies on the back nine. It's difficult to calculate the precise loss in dollars suffered by Andersen Consulting, ABC and the PGA Tour.
Match play is risky business.
It is much easier to predict a handsome, ratings-friendly Sunday leaderboard with medal play, a format that more readily allows the cream to rise. It's also hard to figure why America's best players have so much trouble beating Ryder Cup teams from Europe and International Presidents Cup teams when at La Costa, four U.S. journeymen playing for their own bank accounts outlasted everybody. Lord knows there was plenty of it here despite smallish galleries. By Sunday evening the winner was looking for a magnum of champagne. But the framers of an event that needed more weekend box office in its world premiere were left wondering whether to celebrate with the new champion or quietly cry in their beer.