Sunday's Birdies and Bogeys

By Alex Myers

May 11, 2013

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Birdie: Tiger Woods

As with his previous three wins in 2013, it wasn't quite "vintage Tiger coasting to a win." But for the fourth time this season, it was enough to finish on top -- this time on a course where his struggles have been well documented. In fact, this is the earliest on the calendar that Woods has ever had four wins in a year, an amazing feat considering the number of spectacular seasons on his resume. And while this doesn't end his drought in major championships, it continues his ascension back to being the sport's dominant No. 1 player. He's now won a World Golf Championship and a tournament often referred to as the "fifth major." The real thing can't be too far off.

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Bogey: Sergio Garcia

Sunday started so well as the Spaniard returned to the course to complete his third round and birdied Nos. 16 and 17 to get into the final group for the last 18 holes. Another birdie on 16 about 11 hours later gave him a share of the lead as he stepped to the 17th tee. But then disaster struck as Garcia did his best "Tin Cup" impersonation in an implosion that may be remembered long after his controversial comments about Tiger Woods on Saturday. A quadruple-double finish didn't just cost Garcia his second Players title, but also a lot of money as he fell all the way down to T-8. Oh yeah, it probably didn't do wonders for that fragile psyche of his, either.

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Birdie: David Lingmerth

Despite most of the fans at TPC Sawgrass probably wondering who he was when he showed up on the first tee, Lingmerth birdied No. 1 and was a factor right down to the 72nd hole. He finally showed some nerves when he missed an eight-footer for the tie on No. 17 and on his approach to No. 18, but it's tough to criticize a player's performance under that kind of pressure when he's never been in a situation remotely close to it before. Unfortunately, the three-putt on No. 18 will hurt the rookie's wallet a little, but you can't put a price on the learning experience of the past four days.

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Birdie: No. 17

Some call the famed island green par 3 a gimmick, but wow, does it make things interesting. Sergio Garcia and Jeff Maggert were the latest contenders to find the water off the tee, both ruining their great efforts over the previous 16 holes. Is paying that high a price for such a slight miss fair? That's a difficult question to answer. A much easier one: Does it make this tournament more exciting? Even Garcia and Maggert would have to admit that.

Photo By: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Bogey: Casey Wittenberg

A birdie on his final hole in the morning brought him to within one shot of the lead heading into the final round. Unfortunately, it also earned him a pairing with Tiger Woods in the penultimate group. As was the case earlier this year at Torrey Pines when he played with Woods, Wittenberg struggled, as the 2012 Web.com Player of the Year shot 75 to finish T-8. The result is his best of the year, but finishing a couple slots higher would have gone a lot farther in helping the Oklahoma State star earn some job security.

Photo By: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Birdie: TPC Sawgrass

First, it overcame torrential rains from the week before to get into great shape by the time play started. Then, it produced another exciting tournament. Say what you will about the Pete Dye track, but it always seems to provide plenty of drama. No. 17 gets most of the credit for that, but the course has a number of risk-reward holes and hazards that can make a late three-shot lead by the greatest closer in the history of the sport anything but a sure thing.

Photo By: Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/Getty Images

Bogey: Rory McIlroy

A back-nine 32 gave him a 70 for the day and a T-8, but it still wasn't what he envisioned after an opening 66. On the bright side, McIlroy's playing a lot better than his early-season struggles, but there's still something missing, especially when his name surfaces on the leader board. McIlroy gave away a chance to win at Quail Hollow last week and never got much going until it was too late here. He insists he's completely comfortable with his Nike clubs. Now we're just waiting for him to back that up.

Photo By: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Birdie: Jeff Maggert

Unfortunately, the 49-year-old's defining shot of this tournament will be finding the water on No. 17, but let's cut the guy a little slack. He's 49 and he put forth his best showing ever at TPC Sawgrass, not to mention, the biggest paycheck of a long career. Maggert will be eligible for the Champions Tour next year, but he showed he can still hang with the young guys.

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Bogey: Matt Kuchar

The defending champion put himself in contention heading into the weekend and was still in position for a nice paycheck late on Sunday. Then he fell victim to TPC Sawgrass' closing holes with a double bogey on No. 17 and a triple bogey on No. 18. To be fair, perhaps it's defending champions in general that deserve a "bogey." None have ever finished better than T-5, an indication of just how unpredictable this course is.

Photo By: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Birdie: Martin Laird

No one played a bogey-free round at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, but Laird came the closest. His lone blemish came on the 18th hole after a wayward drive, but his 67 still earned him a T-5 on the heels of a recent win at the Valero Texas Open. Laird said he's grown to like this Pete Dye track, but now he needs to figure out how to play it better early in the week. Last year, he also closed with a 67 to finish T-2.

Photo By: Gerald Herbert/AP Photo