The re-coronation of Tiger Woods will have to wait at least another week as unheralded World Number 117 Robert Rock fired a 2-under 70 en route to winning the Abu Dhabi Championship. An erratic Woods, who started the day tied with Rock, fired a sloppy level par 72 to finish two strokes back. Woods still has not won a full-field, regular season event since his explosive sex scandal broke two years ago last Thanksgiving. Woods has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
According to AP reports from Abu Dhabi, “He started spraying his drives into the thick rough and fairway bunkers, resulting in the first of three bogeys. When Woods wasn’t missing the fairways, he was scrambling to save par as he did on the 11th when overshooting the green. As he approached his shot in deep rough just off the 11th green, he sighed heavily and let out a stream of obscenities under his breath.”
The loss is the second straight time Woods has failed to win with at least a share of the lead after 54 holes. He lost the Chevron World Challenge in 2010 after going into the final round with a four-shot lead over Graeme McDowell.
Woods will return to action in America at Pebble Beach.
Meanwhile Rock won for only the second time in his career. His earlier win was a European Tour event in Italy.
