Tiger's charge may be too late

SPORTS: While Tiger has improved his position from 13th to 5th, his situation vis-a-vis the leaders has not materially changed.

The weather prediction was dead on; it drizzled in the morning and then it thundered and rain came down in buckets, causing a forty-minute suspension of the game. In many places, particularly on the walkways, the water did not properly drain away and created slippery, slushy conditions.

Several patrons who had come out in what we would call chappals, could not find satisfactory traction and sadly slipped and fell. However, no damage was done except to some pride.

Predictions were wrong on how difficult the playing conditions would become. While playing longer because of the wetness, the course laid itself open to attack and there was a flurry of birdies. Paul Casey from the UK rapidly climbed the leader board with a perfectly compiled four under for the first half before giving back part of these gains in the second half.

He followed up Friday's 69 with another, and could seriously contend for the coveted Green Jacket, at only four shots back.

Tiger, playing a few groups earlier, appeared to make a charge by birdieing the second, but then could not convert any other chances to improve his position until the tenth hole. All his well-wishers were despairing when he produced birdies on the tenth and thirteenth hole and appeared to be making up a substantial part of the seven shot deficit.

Even though he had the best round of the day at four under, he only pulled back one shot from the leaders as, not being slouches, they also produced stellar performances. While Tiger has improved his position from thirteenth to fifth, his situation vis-a-vis the leaders has not materially changed. He finished much earlier than the leaders and at that time had, in fact, narrowed the lead down to three.

In the interview after his round, while explaining how the weather, the rapidly changing course conditions, the possibility of dropping a few strokes easily on this course would make a difference in scoring, he felt that his chances depended very much on how the leaders played. "I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow", he said, but one felt that he thought all the other forces were not doing their bit to ensure an exciting, but in the end, facile victory for him.

Nonetheless, he enjoyed as much as he did not the day before; he was smiling and that helped him play better.

Jeev started so well and was playing steadily, birdieing one and then giving it back. Very regrettably, his aggressive approach, which was certainly necessary in these softer conditions, did not bear fruit as he could not hit the par four greens consistently.

He brilliantly saved par on nine and ten, making some difficult putts, but missed three footers for birdy on eight and fifteen. He has surely carved out a name for himself as an Indian golfer in the US as he already had in Japan, Asia and Europe.

Some non-Indian spectators were commenting that he can now be recognised from afar because of his not-so-slow but ambling gait, his unusual swing and the very short time he takes to hit his shot. It is felt that he will win on the US tour soon and, thereby, multiply the impact that he already has made on Indian golf, for which he is a great role model.

Phil Mickelson has also faded out after trying to mount a challenge and cannot be a contender for this tournament. Possibly his joy will come if Tiger is also not able to win it.

Tiger has won six tournaments on the US tour when trailing by seven shots at the halfway mark. The statisticians are throwing up this number but are not allowing for the admirable talents of Immelman, the leader at eleven under, and the youthful Brandt Snedeker from Tennessee.

The Americans are seeing him as a rising young star who could dominate against the Europeans, and with some more experience (this is only his second year on the tour), the rest of the field after Tiger. The character he displayed after slipping midway in the round under tremendous pressure makes him a distinct possibility for winning this tournament, should Immelman slip.

The tournament is now only between Immelman/Snedeker/Flesch/Casey and Woods. Nobody else matters as one of these will surely be the winner; the rest of the field cannot catch up and the relative movements among these five may allow anyone to win.

You need luck, as Immelman had when his ball hung up miraculously on the edge of the water on fifteen, permitting him to escape. A couple of those when lady luck is not attending and the fortunes may quickly change. Indeed, this is what Tiger is hoping for.

The tournament has moved into a very exciting phase now. Tomorrow, the weather, nerves, experience under pressure and luck are going to be major players in deciding the outcome. Because anything can happen, there is tension in the air and the adrenaline is flowing. Will any of them sleep properly?

Tiger may miss the slam and miss winning this major, but what else does he have to shoot for? Records are all that's left to create for some other Tiger, a generation or so later, to come and break the records that he now creates. What kind of a person will that be?

Immelman and Snedeker have many years of playing left in them and they will surely commit everything to capitalise on their present positions. Lots to look forward to tomorrow.