Tiger sets sights on Match Play crown

MARANA—Defending WGC-Accenture Match Play champion Henrik Stenson stood toe-to-tie with Tiger Woods through the first 16 holes of their semifinal match, calmly and quietly matching shots with the world’s best golfer.

Riding a 10-match win streak, the long-hitting Swede drilled a 16-foot putt on the par-3 16th to square the match and get the Southern Arizona golf faithful thinking upset.

Woods promptly shut down that possibility, converting a clutch up-and-down out of a deep green-side bunker to take the lead — and eventually the match.

"That bunker shot was my best of the hole," Woods said. "If I hit it two or three feet past the hole, it would roll off the green."

Once Woods confidently sunk the remaining 12-foot putt, the duo walked to the 18th tee. Both men split the fairway with their tee shots.

Stenson would hit first. He dug his wedge deep into the turf, lifting an enormous divot and leaving his 124-yard approach well short of the green.

Woods, with only 97 yards separating his ball from the pin, aimed for the center of the green. The spin took hold, leaving his ball nestled to within 10 feet of the cup.

Stenson, needing to chip it close to extend the match, left his ball stalled on the false front. As it rolled from the putting surface toward the fairway, a dejected Stenson disgustedly flicked his ball to the side, conceding the hole — and the match — to the Ben Hogan bracket winner.

Woods never trailed against Stenson, and scored five birdies to no bogeys to earn his spot in today’s championship match.

"I felt like I was in control the entire match," Woods said. "I’ve played umpteen more matches in match play than he has. I’ve seen it all. Nothing really surprises me out there."

The afternoon win capped a long day at The Gallery at Dove Mountain for Woods, who took down K.J. Choi 3 and 2 earlier that morning.

Choi took an early lead, with Woods driving wildly on the first tee, yet again.

However, Woods quickly rebounded to birdie No. 2 and square the match.

Both men traded pars through the rest of the front nine, with Choi squandering a half-dozen chances to take control of the match.

Choi had a putt to win six consecutive holes — three within 12 feet — but couldn’t capitalize while Woods was treading water.

Once the men made the turn, Woods shook off his early struggles and chipped in for eagle on No. 10. He followed that with three birdies in the next five holes and cruised to victory.

Woods earned his way to yesterday’s quarterfinal match with Choi after a thrilling 20-hole win over young Australian Aaron Baddeley.

Both men converted nine birdies, but Baddeley struggled to put Woods away down the stretch.

Woods clinched the match with a 15-foot putt on No. 2 — the same green where Nick O’Hern eliminated Woods exactly one year before.

Woods was so sure the putt was going in that he had already taken his hat off and walked toward Baddeley for the match-ending handshake before the ball dropped in.

Woods will now face Stewart Cink in today’s 36-hole final match, scheduled to tee off at 7:40 a.m.

Cink defeated Angel Cabrera 3 and 2 in a round that saw the American tally eight birdies.

Cink maintained that hot streak in the semifinal match against Justin Leonard, where he went 7-under through the first eight holes to cruise to a 4-and-2 afternoon win.

"I’ve putted well every match," Cink said. "I’m really looking forward to tomorrow."

Stenson will battle Leonard in the consolation match at 12:05 p.m.

Woods, who woke up at 3:45 a.m. yesterday morning and took in three showings of SportsCenter, said this tournament is among the toughest and most mentally draining events on the PGA schedule.

He will be looking for his third Match Play title and his sixth-consecutive win on tour.

"In match play, you have 18 battles," Woods said. "You’ve just got to win more than they do."

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Championship details

WGC-Accenture Match Play finals

No. 1 Tiger Woods versus No. 5 Stewart Cink

First round: 7:40 a.m.

Second round: 12:20 p.m.

For the Walter Hagen Cup and $1.35 million

TV: 8-11:30 a.m., The Golf Channel, noon-4 p.m. NBC