It's Tiger's Title To Lose

Apr 08, 09:38 AM

Current Headlines: By Mike Garbett, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Apr. 8--AUGUSTA, Ga. -- First thing you need to know heading into today's final round of the Masters: The champion has come from the final Sunday pairing every year since 1991.

Secondly, that pairing will include Tiger Woods, who has never lost a major when playing in the final group.

Need to know anything else?

Though a 13th major and fifth green jacket aren't sure things considering the brutal conditions at Augusta National, Woods will head to the first tee box shortly after 2 this afternoon as the overwhelming favorite.

Granted, Stuart Appleby went into the books as the 54-hole leader after posting a 1-over 73 on a bitterly cold, blustery Moving Day when the average score was 77.35, but even the affable Australian was quick to concede the title is Woods' to lose.

"Look, Tiger has always got an advantage," said Appleby, who was at 2 over and led Woods and Justin Rose (75) by one stroke. "It's obscene that he has an advantage. It's quite obvious. ... He has more experience than what's left of this field put together."

Padraig Harrington (75), Zach Johnson (76) and Augusta's Vaughn Taylor (77) were two back of Appleby, Bradley Dredge (76) was three back and two-time champion Phil Mickelson (73) was among eight players four behind.

The 2-over 218 marks the highest score to ever lead going into the final round of the Masters.

"One of the hardest rounds we've ever played here," Woods said.

It took an intriguing turn of events for Woods to wind up in his fifth final Sunday pairing at Augusta.

After his second bogey-bogey finish in three days capped a round of 72 -- a superb score considering the conditions -- Woods was four shots behind Appleby. It's the first time Woods failed to break par in any of the first three rounds in 13 trips to Augusta.

But a mistake on No. 17 by Appleby, an errant drive into a bunker near the No. 7 green that led to a triple-bogey 7, brought everyone -- especially Woods -- closer to the lead.

"That was the hole that I let a couple of shots slip, for sure," said Appleby, trying to become the first Aussie to win the Masters. "I felt like there were plenty of holes where I could have let more slip throughout the day. I just happened to bunch one hole up."

Playing four groups behind Appleby, Taylor took a one-shot lead with a birdie on No. 15, but three consecutive bogeys to finish the round dropped him to a 77.

"I feel like I shot 77," Taylor said. "It was a tough day. I didn't feel like I played particularly well all day."

For all his struggles this week on a relentless Augusta National course that asks questions for which there seemingly are few answers, Woods is primed for his fourth green jacket in seven years. Without the miscues on Nos. 17 and 18, he'd be in complete command.

"I hung in there as best I could," Woods said. "I blew it at the end and made two careless bogeys the last two holes."

Another player who let opportunities slip past was Rose, who missed two par putts inside 4 feet during the final three holes.

"The course setup, I don't think you can really argue with where they put the flags," Rose said. "I wasn't out there on the course thinking, 'That's ridiculous.' It was just tough."

Though the majority of the focus today will be on Woods, don't forget about Mickelson. The defending champ grinded his way to a 1-over round to keep him in the game.

"I fought hard enough to where at least I have a chance," said Mickelson, tied with major champions Retief Goosen (70), David Toms (74) and Jim Furyk (76) at 6 over. "[Today] I feel like I have to shoot in the 60s to have a chance. I think I have to make 14 pars and four birdies. That's kind of the game plan."

The 77.35 scoring average was the highest for a third round at Augusta since 1956.

Reporter Mike Garbett can be reached at (813) 259-7893 or mgarbett@tampatrib.com.

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