Tiger Lets First Win Slip Away

Tiger Woods has lost before, but he’s never blown a pro tournament the way he did Sunday.

Tied for the lead with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, Woods found trouble off the tee of the final hole of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates, then put his third shot in the water in front of the green to take a double-bogey seven and remain winless this season.

It was only the fourth time Woods has failed to win after starting the final round in front, and he never had such a final-hole collapse as a pro.

Bjorn, who caught Woods with a birdie on No. 17, finished at 22-under 266 for a two-stroke victory, and joined a short but lengthening line of players who have beaten Woods down the stretch. Woods is still the world’s best player, but he is winless in six tournaments this season.

“The intimidation is disappearing,” Bjorn said. “People are now starting to realize you can’t get intimidated by him. You have to beat him. . . .

“Tiger’s got to learn to lose. Jack Nicklaus won a whole lot of majors, but he finished second a whole lot of times. Tiger’s got to learn to lose. That’s just the way golf is. I’m sure he knows that.”

Bjorn finished with a three-putt par to cap a three-under 69. Woods shot a 72 to finish tied for second with Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who had a final-round 69.

Woods held a one-stroke lead over Bjorn to begin the day. Harrington overtook him at No. 9, but Woods moved back in front with three birdies in five holes to go 22 under through 13 holes.

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Joe Durant proved he can play great golf when the conditions aren’t perfect by closing with a seven-under 65 in fierce winds and a few showers to win the Genuity Championship at Miami and earn an improbable trip to the Masters.

Coming off a record-setting victory two weeks ago in immaculate conditions at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Rancho Mirage, Durant made up a four-stroke deficit and overtook Mike Weir with a brilliant approach from a fairway bunker that allowed him to cruise to a two-stroke victory.

Durant, who finished at 270, became the first two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, and the first player to win consecutive starts since Woods won the NEC Invitational and the Canadian Open at the end of last summer.

The $810,000 first-place check moved him to the top of the PGA Tour money list and got him into the Masters, which takes the top three money-winners of the current season after this week.

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Karrie Webb went through the final round without a challenge as she won by eight strokes over Australia compatriot Rachel Teske to win the ANZ Australian Ladies Masters at Gold Coast for the fourth consecutive year.

Webb started the last round with a five-stroke lead and closed with a three-under 69 to finish at 17 under for a 271 total.

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