European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday april 102007 stars and stripes Page 39 latest masters leaves Dent in tigers legend Augusta a a4iron want the Only thing that Tiger Woods broke sunday at the Mas ters fractured too was the myth that the Man be beat once he grabbed the outright Lead in the final round of a major twice before Woods had been caught and passed but both the 2000 pea championship at Valhalla and Here a Jim Utke year later Woods came out on top in this wackiest of masters he held the Lead for All of a few minutes after making a Birdie at the Sec Ond Hole then spent the rest of the Day try ing in vain to catch a rotating cast of characters going by him in Augusta nationals passing Lane i had a Chance but looking Back Over the week i basically blew this tournament on two rounds where i had Boge bogey finishes Woods said referring to nos 17 and 18 that s 4over on two holes he added you cant afford to do that and win major Champion ships Zach Johnson was parked on the 18th Green with the winning score of 1over 289 when Woods walked onto the 17th tee knowing he would need a Birdi Birdie Fin ish Over those same two holes just to Force a playoff the greatest front runner in Golf made Par at 17 after driving the Ball into the right rough and trying to float a wedge on the wind at his Back and land it close enough to have a shot at a 3 no 50 years of service were celebrating 25 off your Auto loan v service credit Union is celebrating 50 years of service and we would like to include you in the festivities enjoy 25 off our published Auto loan rates now through May 312007 new used refinances Are eligible free pre approvals apply online at a local Branch or by phone oos00472s2000 Best Auto loan Rote 514 if you Are a member of record As of and terms determined by die Overall credit worthiness of Cadi applicant and subject to change without notice Auto rues shown includes 35 discount for direct Deposit new Sci arc Rrbert Vris recent 25 off approved to icon rat members erf rec Riis loan Jan Mary oleum in in Wiki ton co Anjer other loan if counts so Jabla offer on new used or current Sci Auto loins qualifying for idd soral funds of or More sooner had the Ball landed in a Bunker Short of the Green than Woods said loudly what the hell happened there though he want officially done until his approach shot from the Fairway to the final Green stopped rolling some 20 feet to the right of the pin he knew a Mir Acle finish want in the cards the moment the Ball left the club face asked whether it was different being forced to play catchup something Woods rivals know Only too Well Tiger simply said in playing the same holes he Johnson is so if i make the same birdies As he does on the same holes if s a moot Point thais True of course but theres nobody in the game no matter what club he has in his hands that you would rather Lay Money Down on Woods has been golfs version of Michael Jordan with the basketball in his hands and the clock ticking Down Lance Armstrong with a crushing Moun Tain climb coming into View Joe Montana with firstand10 and a minute to go the length of the Field in other words clutch this time he was anything but he gutted it Stuart Apple by the third round Leader and Woods playing partner sunday said with admiration he tried but this once Woods didst de liver anybody who had seen Woods Hole an almost impossible Chip from behind the 16th balls logo even posed for a deep breath before falling into the cup in route to another Green jacket two years ago wait to see what was next this time though most of them watched Woods coming Down the stretch by sneaking peeks through the gaps in the fingers covering their eyes Johnson though Bear to do even that much i really want looking at the Leader Board he said afterwards i left that up to Damon my Caddie i never really knew where i stood i said Damon should i look should i look i didst know until the 17th and then i realized i just had to play solid arid go from there turns out Johnson could have peeked much earlier after the 13th Woods uncharacteristically ran out of magic it was difficult very difficult Woods said it was the hardest masters Ive Ever seen with the wind the dryness the Speed of these things i told a couple Guys out Here this week i was glad i had Metal spikes on or i would have slipped on the greens they were so Slick Woods exited the clubhouse soon after surrounded by his agent and four Security guards sipping a diet soda and carrying a new Driver under his Arm he headed for the driving Range and so Strong is the legend s grown up around Woods that a few people following him actually thought he was going to practice instead he used a Backen trance started up the car and drove Down Magnolia Lane there would be no More Golf this Day this masters was Over and with it went a piece of tigers Aura of invincibility Jim Litke is a National sports columnist for the associated press write to him at
