Woods loses in first round of Match Play Championship
Tiger Woods' return to the Match Play Championship lasted only 1 day. Moments after Woods made a clutch birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend his match yesterday, he hit a shocking 3-wood into the desert and took two shots to get back into the fairway. Woods, seeded first in his bracket and third overall, ended up with a double bogey and lost in 19 holes to Thomas Bjorn in one of 32 matches at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz.
Tiger Woods' return to the Match Play Championship lasted only 1 day.
Moments after Woods made a clutch birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend his match yesterday, he hit a shocking 3-wood into the desert and took two shots to get back into the fairway. Woods, seeded first in his bracket and third overall, ended up with a double bogey and lost in 19 holes to Thomas Bjorn in one of 32 matches at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz.
It was only the second time that Woods has lost in the opening round, and he had good company among the top American seeds. Steve Stricker, seeded second in his bracket, lost 2-and-1 to 17-year-old Matteo Manassero, while Jim Furyk, the third seed, was beaten by Ryan Palmer, 2 up.
Asked what went wrong, Woods said simply, "I blew it."
Lee Westwood, the No. 1 overall seed, who was also the top seed in his bracket, never trailed in his 3-and-2 victory over Henrik Stenson. PGA champion Martin Kaymer, also the top seed in his bracket, had the shortest match of the opening round, a 7-and-6 win over 19-year-old Seung-yul Noh of South Korea.
Phil Mickelson, seeded fourth overall, and No. 1 in his bracket, won 6-and-5 over Brendan Jones.
Pro Football
* Linebacker LaMarr Woodley has signed Pittsburgh's 1-year franchise tender offer, the Steelers announced. In the final season of his rookie contract, Woodley, 26, made $550,000. But next season, he'll stand to make more than $10 million because of the tag and his position.
* Jacksonville placed a franchise tag on tight end Marcedes Lewis. The Jaguars and Lewis will continue to negotiate a long-term deal, but the nonexclusive tag essentially assures both sides at least another season together.
Philly File
* Will Doggett is the new head football coach at Frankford High. He was the defensive coordinator.
* The viewing for former Frankford High football player Chris Spence will be Tuesday from 8 to 11 a.m., at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 230 W. Coulter Street, West Germantown. The funeral will follow.
* Tyler Semola's 385 series led Northeast, which rallied to beat Saul, 1,725-1,705, and win its fourth Public League Coed Bowling title in the last seven seasons.