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."