Tiger's winning streak over
2006-11-12 11:10
John Pye
Shangai - A relatively unknown South Korean golfer ended Tiger Woods' streak in stroke events, winning the HSBC Champions tournament Sunday.
Yang Yong-eun, a regular on the Japanese tour who has played infrequently outside Asia, closed with a 3-under 69 Sunday at the Sheshan International Golf Club for a two-stroke win at 14-under 274.
Woods had birdies on the 14th, 16th and 18th holes, including a four-footer on the last, to finish second - for the second year running - with a 67 and 12-under 276.
Third-round leader Retief Goosen hit his approach on 18 in the water, part of a horrendous back nine when he shot 39 en route to a 1-over 73 and a total of 11 under. He was tied for third with New Zealand's Michael Campbell, who equaled the course record with a 64.
Yang's $833 000 winners' check eclipsed the previous biggest tournament prize for the 34-year-old South Korean.
Woods, who won six consecutive stroke events on the US PGA Tour before taking a five-week sabbatical leading into the this tournament, started the day five shots off the pace and never really threatened to overtake Yang.
Woods said his 73 in cold and blustery conditions Saturday cost him a good run at the title in Asia's richest tournament.
"I wasn't quite good enough," Woods said. "Yesterday just killed me.
"I was so far back and Yang just played a great stretch of holes and just put it out of reach for all of us that were six or seven under trying to make a run at him."
Yang started the day at 11-under par, one behind overnight leader Goosen, but took a three-shot lead with seven holes to play.
Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion, had a terrible third round, making 10 bogeys in a 77. But he improved on that score by 13 strokes Sunday, making five birdies on the front nine and three on the back.
He shares the course record with Woods and Henrik Stenson, who both had 64s on Friday.
- SAPA