CARLSBAD — This is what the tournament organizers had in mind when they schemed up this Andersen Consulting World Match Play Championship.
The idea, as it is in every draw-sheet tournament in sports, is to have No. 1 meet No. 2 in the final.
Through two days of this week’s World Match Play, No. 1 Tiger Woods remains on a compelling collision course toward meeting No. 2 David Duval in Sunday’s 36-hole final.
All right, so we’re a bit ahead of ourselves. There are still two rounds to be played before anyone gets to the final.
And, all things considered, tournament organizers and golf fans everywhere got a bit lucky yesterday, because Woods nearly failed to get out of the second round against South African Retief Goosen.
Woods, by virtue of a gift-wrapped Goosen three-putt on the 18th and final hole, staved off his underdog opponent to win 1-up.
Clearly, Woods felt somewhat like Duke getting past Valpo in the second round.
“I’m relieved, really,” Woods said afterward. “I really didn’t play my best, but hung around and was good enough, just to advance. It’s just like playing in the NCAA Tournament. You just want to keep going … and I’m going on to the third round.”
So, too, is Duval, who defeated Tim Herron 2 & 1, advancing to play Sergio Garcia in what is certainly the most compelling match of the tournament so far.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Duval said. “I’ll have to play well to win, but I think I’m going to be able to do that. It should be an exciting match.”
Woods today will play Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama, who upset Justin Leonard 1 up. He’ll go into the match knowing he didn’t play nearly as well as he did Wednesday, when he shot 4-under and whipped Michael Campbell. Woods shot 70 yesterday and had a couple moments, such as his uncharacteristic snap-hook drive out of bounds on No. 2.
“Today was definitely a tough match,” Woods said. “Retief played very patient golf, very solid. And I was erratic at times. I hit some good shots and hit some squirrelly ones, but I hung in there and got a nice little gift on 18.”
Indeed he did. With both players on in two, Goosen three-putted from about 45 feet, his second putt a testy eight footer.
“I wanted to give it a chance,” Goosen said of that second putt on 18. “but unfortunately I hit it a little too hard. It didn’t look as quick as it was. It was a bit disappointing to finish it that way, but that’s the way the game is.
“Neither of us played to form, me or Tiger. Tiger drove the ball well, but from there he didn’t do much.”
All getting away with one yesterday did for Woods was fuel his confidence.
“I feel like I should win (every match),” Woods said. “But that’s just the way I think. When you’re out here at this level, this seeding is thrown out the window, because anybody can beat anybody. You’re seeing that out there.”
Colin Montgomerie, No. 3 in the world, saw it. He was beaten by No. 35 Thomas Bjorn in what became the match of the day, a 23-hole marathon.
Ernie Els, No. 5 in the world, saw it. He lost to 28th-ranked Bob Estes 1 up. Estes will play Miguel Jimenez, who knocked off No. 12 Tom Lehman.
Lee Westwood, No. 7 in the world, saw it. He was stunned by No. 39 chronic complainer Scott Hoch 1-up.
Mark O’Meara, No. 14 in the world saw it. He was whipped by Darren Clarke 5 & 4.
Among the high seeds who advanced yesterday included No. 4 Davis Love, who beat Jeff Sluman 3 & 2 and will play No. 13 Jim Furyk, who beat Bob Tway 2 & 1. Jesper Parnevik, No. 10, defeated Joe Ozaki 1-up and will play Hoch today.