Howell Slays the Tiger in China

Tiger Woods three-putted for bogey from 15 feet on the fifth hole while Englishman David Howell birdied from four feet, a two-shot swing that set the tone for the final round of the HSBC Tournament of Champions as Tiger fell four shots back after starting the day one back. After that, the Englishman marched to victory in the $5 million all-star event that also served as the opener of the 2006 European Tour season.

Howell began the final round at Sheshan International Golf Club a single shot ahead of Woods and Nick O’Hern of Australia, and finished up three ahead of the world No. 1 at 20-under 268 after his second straight 68. Woods finished with a 2-under 70, his worst round of the week, to end up at 17-under 271.

While most everyone on hand expected Woods to come out flying, it was Howell instead who shot out of the blocks. Howell birdied four of the first seven holes, while Woods could manage only birdies on the par-3 fourth and par-4 seventh sandwiched around a bogey on the par-5 fourth.

Howell stumbled with bogeys on the par-5 eighth and par-4 ninth to come back toward Woods, but the world No. 1 could not take advantage of his second chance. Woods birdied the par-3 12th, but his second bogey in three days on the par-4 16th all but sealed his fate.
Howell, meanwhile, bounced back from those two bogeys with a birdie on the par-4 10th and another at the par-3 12th, and he was back in complete control.

Pos  Player                       R1  R2  R3  R4  Tot
1    David HOWELL (Eng)           65  67  68  68  -20
2    Tiger WOODS (USA)            65  69  67  70  -17
T3   Nick O'HERN (Aus)            67  67  67  73  -14
     Nick DOUGHERTY (Eng)         64  68  73  69  -14
T5   Vijay SINGH (Fiji)           67  69  70  69  -13
     Thomas BJÖRN (Den)           67  69  69  75  -13
7    Paul CASEY (Eng)             67  68  73  68  -12
T8   Jean-François REMESY (Fr)    70  67  70  70  -11
     Thaworn WIRATCHANT (Thai)    67  68  69  73  -11
10   Michael CAMPBELL (NZ)        66  70  69  73  -10
11   Paul LAWRIE (Scot)           64  75  70  70   -9
T12  K J CHOI (Kor)               65  71  74  70   -8
     Arjun ATWAL (Ind)            69  70  73  68   -8
     Lee WESTWOOD (Eng)           70  69  74  67   -8
T15  Padraig HARRINGTON (Ire)     69  72  72  68   -7
     Steve WEBSTER (Eng)          72  70  71  68   -7
     Peter O'MALLEY (Aus)         64  72  73  72   -7
     Thongchai JAIDEE (Thai)      67  73  71  70   -7

Photo Credit: © Getty Images.