Wachovia Championship round four: Why I feel cheated by Tiger's victory

I’ve been wondering why I’m feeling so frustrated about Sunday at the Wachovia. Hey, Tiger Woods won another tournament despite himself. What’s to worry? Let out a yawn and move on.

Can’t do that. I like to enjoy my sport whether I’m punting or not, and sport to me apparently has an entirely different meaning from all those millions of TV viewers who simply want to see Tiger cream the opposition. To me it is competition, a gritty duel to the finish between top practitioners. For three and a half days at the Wachovia I felt I was getting my money’s worth. Then, a big fat phut.

If ever a shot turned a golf match it was Tiger’s eagle on the seventh Sunday. I tip my hat to him for that one. But it didn’t just vault him to two shots in front. The shock of it also completely knocked the stuffing out of his challengers. Game over.

His subsequent birdie blitz was just icing on the cake: the rest of the field had already given up the ghost. By the time Quail Hollow began taking back the big dollops of luck it had handed Woods along the front nine, it didn’t even matter that his rivals had run out of holes to punish him. Vijay Singh’s putter was in meltdown, Rory Sabbatini imploded as his heart yet again took over from his head, and not only did Steve Stricker’s putter go on strike, but his precision driving decided to pack up and go home too. It was all becoming a bit Fred Karno’s army and by the end I felt cheated.

Tiger played some superb golf at Wachovia, but even his most dewy-eyed fans must admit it was very patchy. It’s not often you see him open the door leading by three with six holes to go. But when Tiger is in or around pole position on the final day it is like an extra shot or two off his round, such is the effect it has on his rivals.

Do we suppose one day we’ll find someone to stand up to him? Many have raised the promise, only to be found embarrassingly wanting. Maybe we must wait for some of the emerging talent to pick up the gauntlet, the likes of Anthony Kim once he gains course knowledge and management nous. But while they are vital ingredients of success, it’s what’s up top that counts. When it comes to mind over matter, Tiger still wipes the floor with the lot of them.

PS: If I was American I’d be feeling pretty smug. Eight of the top ten, in what is not a whole lot short of a major, flew the Stars and Stripes. For once the Aussies were a big no show and the Europeans, as usual, were too busy snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

But what is it about Arron Oberholser? For the second time at the Wachovia he follows three rounds in the sixties with a horror in the seventies. In the end there wasn’t a single player under 70 on all four days. Tough course that Quail Hollow.