For Woods, a game of inches, and feet: Caddie Steve Williams keeps statistics that Woods wins 86 percent of the time he goes through a tournament without a three-putt, a percentage that includes his latest win. On the subject of putting and its importance, keep this perspective in mind: Tiger was third in greens hit in regulation last week at the AT&T National, was second in driving distance and a remarkable seventh in driving accuracy, yet when it comes down to it on Sunday, the deciding strokes were the two birdie putts he made outside on the 10th (31 feet, 7 inches) and 16th (19 feet, 7 inches) holes. In all Woods made 363 feet 11 inches worth of putts at Congressional, and he needed every inch to beat Hunter Mahan by a stroke for his 68th career victory. Conversely, at the U.S. Open, the four strokes separating Woods and Lucas Glover were found in the putting department, 120-116.
Tough ride at Golf Channel: Producer Matt Hegarty was glad he wasn't working Monday morning, because after the calls he received Saturday and Sunday mornings, preparing for the 12:30 Golf Central pre-game shows, there was no telling what was next. On Saturday, Hegarty picked up the phone to learn analyst Brandel Chamblee had gone over the handlebars of his bicycle on a mid-morning ride in Orlando. Chamblee broke an elbow and is expected back on air Wednesday. "I flew like shot out of a gun," Chamblee said. "I'm thinking, man, this is not going to end well." Then Sunday, Hegarty's phone rang again with news that anchor Todd Lewis had been involved in a horrific traffic accident less than one mile from Golf Channel studios. Lewis' car, T-boned by an oncoming car running a light, was totaled but the broadcaster wasn't. Inga Hammond filled in on Sunday, but Lewis showed up for work on Monday after a prolonged visit to the emergency room. "I'm sitting here going through the miles of paperwork I have to go through to get a new car," Lewis said Friday morning. "As predicted, each day since the accident I've become more sore and in more pain, but there's nothing structurally that will keep me out. I'm hoping time will take care of it."
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