Match Play Championship - Tiger Woods Not As Bad As Foe In Match - Play Opener

(02-22) 21:09 PST As Tiger Woods and Gonzalo Fern ndez-Casta o reached that 12th hole of these match on Wednesday, Golf Channel analyst Nick Faldo cranked in place his thickest sarcasm.

"Do people think they should aim in the desert?" Faldo wondered aloud. "Then they might reach the particular green."

And might be they'll likely would likely miss their particular putts.

Woods made it the particular cracking open rounded of that Match Play Championship in the garden Tucson, but he'll should have fun with improved - much, much, significantly better - to help conquer Nick Watney inside the current second round. Based about Wednesday's showing, it's really good for you to ask: Is Woods wading in self-doubt?

He might under no circumstances recognize this, naturally, because Woods designed his / her amazing history upon strutting all-around including probably the most self-assured player ever before (and he ended up being for a lot of years). But it is really impossible to not ask yourself the amount of associated with their wrinkled engage in beginning in 2012 is usually influenced through shaken belief with his ability to help win.

Or, put one more way, he seems excellent apart from if the blind levels tend to be huge - in addition to that's simply whenever Old Tiger shifted straight into a great otherworldly gear.

It had been something in order to watch Woods engage in a below average very last round with dropping in order to hatless Robert Rock within Abu Dhabi on Jan. 29. It seemed to be a period to find out Woods have fun with a awful ultimate rounded - through which this individual viewed dropped in addition to confused, after three a short time of sharpness - within going down to help Phil Mickelson at Pebble Beach on Feb. 12.

And it had been one more thing fully to take Woods wobble Wednesday, intimidating to slide that will Fern ndez-Casta o in a great epic upset.

Fern ndez-Casta o, your 31-year-old Spaniard, features earned all 5 situations upon the particular European Tour along with appears No. twenty four on the earth rankings, therefore he's absolutely no slouch. He likewise triggered a blend Tuesday, as soon as they called Woods "beatable" with pretournament interviews.

Absolutely.

Woods must have also been usual Wednesday. He will include lost to be able to almost all online players while in the field, nonetheless Fern ndez-Casta o played out possibly sloppier and also faltered affordable your stretch, allowing for Woods to acquire start by making pars to the very last several holes.

Still, the actual everlasting photographs made by this match were Woods smacking one shot left-handed . or roaming amongst that cactus, seeking pertaining to their ball . or giving some sort of chip shot well brief belonging to the target . or maybe transmitting putts sliding over this cup.

He did produces a clutch system par preserve on No. 18, in order to mercifully end that match. But around his / her repeat pursuit in order to acquire an endorsed PGA Tour event for that very first time that within nearly only two 1/2 years, Woods brought up more inquiries as compared to answers.

Other many different observations after watching Wednesday's opening round:

The first evening in the Match Play Championship will be continually rollicking very good fun. It's uncomplicated to be able to disappointment the particular television for the first morning of your stroke-play tournament. It's difficult to look absent at Match Play.

Even so, the particular file format can never resonate having typical fans because of the leading online players are often taken away early, ultimately causing obscure matchups about the weekend. One No. 1 seed starting (Luke Donald) in addition to a couple of No. 2s (Adam Scott as well as Webb Simpson) went decrease Wednesday.

The vary of a prolonged hitter struggling with a new plodder is fascinating. Dustin Johnson in addition to Jim Furyk didn't disappoint, going thirty holes in advance of Johnson prevailed. It ended up being the equivalent of Randy Johnson outdueling Greg Maddux.

Good thing Rickie Fowler, resplendent in an all-blue outfit, decided not to play Sergio Garcia, whom wore blindingly brilliant random world shoes. "That would likely drive me nuts, thinking about all those things," Faldo said.

Master with the barbecue

Somehow, it is really difficult for you to image Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer wielding baking products during Augusta National.

Charl Schwartzel, this 2011 Masters winner, would like to convert this specific year's Champions Dinner right barbecue - a braai, as they call up it around his native South Africa. Just a handful of guys hanging surrounding the grill (all being dressed in green jackets, naturally) as well as replacing stories.

Schwartzel supplied to try and do the cooking food himself. Now he has longing in order to notice returning from Augusta National officials, who usually are not accustomed to such an uncommon, low-key require through the reigning champion.

"I believe that needed them pretty simply by surprise, maybe ready anything additional the way in which some people always perform it," Schwartzel reported Tuesday for a discussion call. "I just locate often I never enjoy most of these basic functions. I that it for being entertaining and also relaxed, (with) one thing everyone will certainly eat."

If golf club officials give him that go-ahead, Schwartzel programs to offer lamb chops, fillet steaks along with a sausage recognized with South Africa because boerewors.

- Ron Kroichick