The imperfect storm wreaked havoc on the British Open Saturday.
It swept through Muirfield with a randomness that defied logic. The rain and wind obliterated Tiger Woods’ chances to win a calendar-year Grand Slam. Yet Soren Hansen, a journeyman European pro, was left standing.
The conditions produced one of the most difficult and unforgettable days in British Open history. Woods won’t soon forget it.
Woods fell with the suddenness of an 18-wheeler caught in a mudslide. He stumbled to an incomprehensible 81, his worst round as a pro. His previous worst had been a 79 at the 1996 Australian Open.
“I hit poor shots on a tough day, and that added up to a pretty high number,” he said.
Woods’ fall left the door wide open for Ernie Els. He weathered the storm by bouncing back with a 32 on the back nine to put together a 1-over-par 72. At 5 under, Els is two shots ahead of the improbable Hansen, who is in second alone at 3 under after a 73.
Sergio Garcia (71) heads a list of seven players at 2 under. Justin Leonard and Justin Rose are also on that list; both shot 68 under relatively benign conditions early in the day.
Looking at the forecast, Leonard was a bit self-centered.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the teeth of the course yet,” he said, “but hopefully the fellows will see it this afternoon–now that I’m in.”
Sure enough, the storm barreled in flashing its fangs at 2 p.m., shortly before Woods’ tee time. It packed a piercing sideways rain and bone-chilling winds, featuring gusts up to 30 m.p.h.
Foul weather is common in Scotland, where there seems to be only one season: dreary. But this was the British Open’s equivalent of 15-below for a title game in Green Bay.
“I don’t know if there was any sleet in it, but it sure hurt,” said Woods, at 6 over after starting the day 4 under and two back. “It was blowing pretty hard.
“On the third hole I ripped a 5-iron 135 yards, and I hit it good.”
Woods usually thrives in poor conditions. When he won the U.S. Open last month at Bethpage, he made his biggest move during a saturated second round.
But this time Woods nearly was washed away into the nearby Firth of Forth. In a stunning collapse, the world’s best player couldn’t hit a fairway, stubbed chips and seemed clueless with the putter.
Woods had two double-bogeys, one after missing a 3-foot putt for a 4 on the par-3 13th. When he made his only birdie of the day, on 17, he raised his hands to the heavens, but it was much too late for prayers.
“I played every shot the way you’re supposed to play them, but I just didn’t execute most of those shots,” Woods said. “Thank God I was grinding because it could have been a really high number.”
An 81 was high enough. It was the worst round ever shot by a golfer bidding for a Grand Slam.
“That’s what happens on a day like today,” Nick Price said of Woods’ round. “It really is pot luck out there. You try not to make big numbers, but it’s easy to lose your patience.”
Woods was hardly alone. Colin Montgomerie followed his 64 Friday with an 84. Second-round co-leader Duffy Waldorf had a bizarre 45-32 for a 77.
Els also appeared headed for 80 country when he slumped to a 40 on the front nine. But he didn’t get discouraged.
“Myself and Shigeki [Maruyama], we kept dropping shots, and they wouldn’t take us off the leaderboard,” Els said. “I felt pretty good about that. I knew at that stage nobody was really having a lot of fun.”
Els started enjoying himself when the weather let up at the 12th hole. He finished strong with birdies on 13, 16 and 17.
“Even though it was calm, there was so much pressure,” Els said. “You don’t want to let shots go. You’re supposed to play better. I was really pleased with the way I came in.”
Els now is one round away from achieving his biggest goal. The two-time U.S. Open champion has always dreamed of winning the British.
Those dreams have sometimes ended with Woods standing in his way. But it’s highly unlikely to be the case Sunday.
Hansen, who refuses to go away, is chasing Els. The Dane is playing in only his second British Open. Before Saturday, the odds of Hansen being in contention, nine shots ahead of Woods, had to be astronomical.
Not having to worry about Woods will be a relief for Els. But he hardly will be relaxing.
“If Tiger was at 2 under . . . not taking anything away from the other guys, but we all know what Tiger is,” Els said. “There are a lot of other players playing really well, and a lot of guys are in contention. It’s going to be quite tight.”
The final round should be interesting, but it will have to go a long way to be as unusual as Saturday’s.
Woods’ worst rounds
81: 2002 British Open, third round
79: 1996 Australian Open, first round
78: 1999 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, third round
78: 1996 Tour Championship, second round
77: 2002 Buick Invitational, second round
77: 1998 British Open, third round
77: 1998 Bay Hill Invitational, final round
77: 1997 Las Vegas Invitational, third round
Hole of the day
4, PAR 3, 214 YARDS
EAGLES: 0; BIRDIES: 6; PARS: 52; BOGEYS: 22; DOUBLE BOGEYS OR WORSE: 3; AVERAGE: 3.289; RANKING: 6th toughest
COMMENT: Once the wind whipped up, this became the hardest hole on the course. When Nick Price got on using a driver, he called it “the best green in regulation I ever had.”
