Tiger's First Appearance Left Us Golf Talking To Ourselves!

After day 1 of the Accenture Match Play Championship at Marana, we were really golf talking about Tiger Woods playing Tim Clark from South Africa in his second round. After all, he gave us everything we hoped for in the first match, starting off with birdie, eagle to eliminate Brendan Jones of Australia 3 and 2. Jones gave Tiger a respectable challenge, which gave us a chance to see the Number 1 golfer in the world once again rise to the challenge.

PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem had to be breathing a sigh of relief when he saw Tiger walking down the meticulously groomed fairways at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club just north of Tucson, twirling his golf club like a baton and moving like the Tiger of former championship years. As one headline shouted, "Tiger's return not a big deal -it's huge."

That sigh must have turned into a lump in Finchem's throat on Thursday, though, as Tim Clark played impeccable golf, sending Woods to his private jet after 16 holes.

Tiger said he was pleased with his game - and his knee, but just didn't have an answer for Clark's brilliant play. His knee was holding up so well, in fact, that when he found his golf ball out in the desert after teeing off on the 15th, he refused a ride in a golf cart and walked the 350 yards back to the tee box.

Clark said later that "I knew I had to play out of my mind to beat him." Did he ever! Six birdies and constant pressure on TW, including a tee shot within 4 feet on the 16th. When Tiger missed the chip-in from off the green, he conceded the hole...and Clark had won the match 4 and 2. Played out of his mind, indeed.

That opened the door for Geoff Ogilvy, an Aussie living in Scottsdale, Arizona, and his English friend Paul Casey, who was a former star at ASU in Tucson, to rise to the top for Sunday's final 36-hole match for the title. Ogilvy never looked back and never trailed during the match, winning the event for the second time in four years by besting his buddy 4 to 3.

This was probably not the outcome the promoters and the PGA had in mind, but they should still feel good about it. Tiger is back, even though he didn't play up to his potential...and, the PGA Tour has once again showcased the outstanding talent of the young players, who are gaining experience and credibility in the game.

Looks like it's going to be an interesting and exciting year for golf!

Hit ‘em long, straight and often!


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