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Report Card
How the top 10 players on the World Ranking entering the 2005 British Open fared
1
- 1. Tiger Woods, 1, 274 (-14)
- Grade: A
- July 2005
- What worked: The putter, which failed him at Pinehurst. His 120 putts last week were a tournament low.
What didn't: Well, he hit four bunkers. And he didn't secure the win until the back-nine Sunday.
What about the PGA: Four times since '97 he's had his worst major finish at the year's final major.
2
- 2. Vijay Singh, T-5, 281 (-7)
- Grade: B
- What worked: No stat shined, yet he was T-5, gutting out a similar finish to the year's other majors.
What didn't: He took 124 putts, his lowest in a major in '05. But that's misleading. He didn't putt.
What about the PGA: If he converts on the greens at Baltusrol, the two-time champ should threaten.
3
- 3. Ernie Els, T-34, 286 (-2)
- Grade: C-
- What worked: He made 18 birdies despite hitting only 37 fairways and 52 greens in regulation.
What didn't: Els took 37 putts Saturday when he fell out of contention for good.
What about the PGA: Was T-7 in the '93 U.S. Open at Baltusrol, his first made cut in a U.S Open.
4
- 4. Phil Mickelson, T-60, 289 (+1)
- Grade: D
- What worked: Through three rounds Mickelson played the front nine in seven under par.
What didn't: He was nothing if not consistent on the greens, taking 33, 33, 33 and 32 putts per day.
What about the PGA: Has a star-crossed PGA history, being in contention (six top-10s) as often as not.
5
- 5. Retief Goosen, T-5, 281 (-7)
- Grade: B
- What worked: He hit 47 greens the last three days, tied for best in the field during that span.
What didn't: Bounced back from Pinehurst, but another poor final round (74) leaves work to be done.
What about the PGA: He'll get another chance to rebound, but it's likely the year that could have been.
6
- 6. Sergio Garcia, T-5, 281 (-7)
- Grade: B
- What worked: Had his best Open finish ever--and fourth top-10--thanks to 69s in the middle rounds.
What didn't: Garcia took 131 putts. Among players in the top 10 only Fred Couples took more.
What about the PGA: He missed the cut three of the last four years, but expected better this time around.
7
- 7. Adam Scott, T-34, 286 (-2)
- Grade: C-
- What worked: One of the week's longest hitters (eighth, 329 yards) and better putters (12th, 123).
What didn't: Everything in between. He hit only 53 greens (T-58) and made just 14 birdies.
What about the PGA: A T-30 finish sounds right. He's been consistently underachieving in majors in '05.
8
- 8. Jim Furyk, MC, 148 (+4)
- Grade: F
- What worked: Like most players Thursday he hit the ball a long way, averaging 329 yards per drive.
What didn't: Three three-putts in a first-round 78, kept him from the weekend despite a 70 Friday.
What about the PGA: Once an automatic top-10 major finisher, he has no top-10s since his U.S. Open win.
9
- 9. Padraig Harrington, did not play
- Grade: None
- Harrington withdrew from the British Open after the death of his father, Patrick, three days before the tournament began.
What about the PGA: It depends on his frame of mind, but if he decides to play, he'll likely do well.
10
- 10. David Toms, DQ, 74 (+2)
- Grade: Inc.
- What worked: His honor goes unchallenged, penalizing himself for a violation no one else saw.
What didn't: The admirable DQ hid a flawed round. After the 74, he likely would have missed the cut.
What about the PGA: Hasn't done well in NYC-area majors, with a MC, a T-45 and a T-20 in three tries.
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