Tiger Wood delivered a vintage moment, dropping an 8-iron from the sky on the final hole Sunday inside 3 feet for what looked to be a sure victory.
Just not this year.
The clutch shots and happy endings belonged to U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
McDowell capped off his greatest season with the biggest comeback ever against the Woods. He rallied from a four-shot deficit in the Chevron World Challenge, then upstaged Woods at his own tournament.
McDowell holed a 20-foot birdie putt to force a playoff, then beat Woods on the first extra hole with another birdie from a little bit longer.
"They're the kind of putts that you make them, and you can't really believe it afterwards," McDowell said. "They were the stuff of dreams — 2010 has been the stuff of dreams. It's been that kind of year."
Woods might have known what to expect, considering how his year has gone.
Without a trophy for the first time since he can remember, Woods appeared ready to embark on a new chapter after a year of the personal turmoil and shocking scores. A four-shot lead turned into a two-shot deficit. He rallied to tie McDowell, then watched the U.S. Open champion deliver the winning shots.
It was the first time Woods has lost a tournament when leading by at least three shots going into the final round.
And it was the first time anyone could recall Woods feeling good after a loss.
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