Woods wants revenge against Calcavecchia

Woods wants revenge against Calcavecchia

PEBBLE BEACH, California (Reuters): Tiger Woods suffered his most serious humiliation as a professional during the Phoenix Open -- and plans to avenge that embarrassment in a practice round with Mark Calcavecchia this week.

Woods shot a two-over-par 73 in the second round at Scottsdale, while eventual winner Calcavecchia went round in a brilliant 60.

The 13-stroke difference was the worst Woods has suffered since he joined the paid ranks in 1996.

The forthcoming round at Cypress Point will be a tune up for this week's Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but Woods sees it as the chance to pay his good friend back.

"He's going to have to give me six strokes a side," Woods said. "Then I like my chances."

Certainly nobody fancied Woods's chances at the Phoenix Open at the weekend once it became clear that Calcavecchia was in overdrive.

The former British Open champion who had not tasted success since the 1998 Honda Classic simply ran away from the rest and set tournament and U.S. PGA Tour records. He won by eight strokes and finished 28-under-par on 256. In the process he erased the 46-year-old Tour best for low 72-hole aggregate.

The previous mark of 257 was set by Mike Souchak at the 1955 Texas Open.

Calcavecchia's peers were not really surprised. He is an aggressive player and the approach pays handsome dividends on occasions.

Woods said: "Calc is one of those players who is a little streaky. When he gets going, he really gets going."

Second-placed Rocco Mediate added: "He was flawless. Except for a couple of holes, he was awesome."

Calcavecchia has won 10 PGA Tour events, plus the 1989 British Open. Even with a six-stroke lead going into the final round, he spent Sunday going for par-fives in two and using a driver on most holes.

Apart from breaking Souchak's record, the 40-year-old American equaled John Huston's mark of lowest under par in a tournament. He also shot 32 birdies, breaking Huston's record of 31.

But Calcavecchia did not look like he would even break 70 before the tournament started. In a practice round the week before the event at a nearby course with friends, Calcavecchia shot a 75.

"I was hitting it everywhere," he said. "I was like 'I had better do some heavy-duty practicing'."

So he hit balls, and called his teacher Butch Harmon and then worked a little more. When he played in the pro-am he shot a 65 and knew he was ready.

"I shot kind of a nonchalant 65 in the pro-am without lining up many putts, so basically I knew I had it," Calcavecchia said.

"I went home, my mom flew in and asked how I was doing. I looked at her, and I said, 'I got it. I just shot the easiest 65 you've ever seen on the pro-am'."

By the end of the second round the rest of the field knew he had found it.

Calcavecchia flirted with a 59 before settling for a tournament-equaling 60. In the third round, while others struggled with bad weather, Calcavecchia shot a 64, breaking Gay Brewer's 1967 PGA Tour mark for two low consecutive rounds.

He did not ease up in the final round either, increasing his lead by two strokes and thought he could go even lower.

"I tried to play a game with myself and I tried to get to 30- under," Calcavecchia said. "I thought that would be pretty cool, getting a 30-under."