Tiger Woods's bid for a record third successive green jacket ended in tatters on Sunday after a stunning string of uncharacteristic errors on the front nine of the final round of the U.S. Masters.
A double bogey on three and a trio of dropped shots on four, seven and eight combined to defuse the early momentum the world number one had been building after a birdie on the par-five second had moved to him to within three of the lead.
By the time a dejected Woods reached the turn at three-over through nine, the 27-year-old American was trailing the leader and eventual winner Canadian Mike Weir by a massive seven strokes in the chase for a fourth Masters title. +
While Woods has thrilled golf fans around the world with magical comebacks and improbable victories throughout his career, the hole he dug for himself this time proved too deep, finishing the day at three-over par and two-over for the tournament, nine shots adrift of the winner.
STUMBLING THROUGH
"It was just one of those weeks when I couldn't get anything going," said Woods. "It's not easy to win three, no one has ever done it."
After stumbling through the opening two rounds, Woods had the leaders looking nervously over their collective shoulders after clawing his way back into contention with a third-round six-under 66 on Saturday.
With brilliant sunshine bathing the Augusta National course, Woods got Sunday's final round off to a dubious start when he drove his tee shot right into the fairway bunkers.
But after scrambling for par and a well-deserved birdie on the second, Woods looked poised to mount one of his patented charges.
Bristling with confidence, an attempt to reach the green on the par-four third proved to be a fatal error, Woods's drive sailing past the pin into the trees and azaleas resulting in his first double bogey of the tournament.
"I got off to an ideal start and just made a mental blunder on three and that cost me a lot of big mo (momentum)," said Woods as he stepped off the 18th green to loud applause.
"That was a big error.
"I just made the wrong decision."
A clearly rattled Woods never recovered from the shock, three-putting the par-three fourth as his game disintegrated into a series of uncharacteristic mistakes.
A birdie on the ninth offered Woods's huge gallery a slim glimmer of hope that their hero might mount a charge.
But the rally never materialized, Woods battling through the back nine at even par.
For Woods, the year's first major was one of contrasting performances, one moment as gloomy as the rain that plagued the tournament through the first part of the week and the next, as brilliant as the sunshine that kissed the famous layout on Sunday.
Completing his rain-delayed second round early on Saturday, Woods needed to drain a nerve rattling putt on the final hole just to avoid missing his first cut in a major in seven years as a professional.
A few hours later, he returned to the course for his third round, firing a superb 66 to surge back into contention.
"You can't win everything," shrugged Woods. "That's our sport."
