By Stephen Wade
Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tiger Woods has lost before, but he’s never blown a pro tournament the way he did yesterday.
Tied for the lead with Thomas Bjorn, Woods found trouble off the tee on the final hole of the Dubai Desert Classic, then splashed his third shot in front of the green to take a double-bogey 7 and remain winless this season.
It was only the fourth time Woods has failed to win after starting the final round in front, and he never had such a final-hole collapse as a pro.
Bjorn, who caught Woods with a birdie on No. 17, finished at 22-under 266 for a two-stroke victory, and joined a short but lengthening line of players who have beaten Woods down the stretch.
"The intimidation is disappearing," Bjorn said. "People are now starting to realize you can’t get intimidated by him. You have to beat him."
Bjorn finished with a three-putt par to cap a 3-under 69. Woods shot a 72 to finish tied for second with Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who had a final-round 69. Ian Woosnam (69) and Mathias Gronberg (68) were another two shots back.
Woods held a one-stroke lead over Bjorn to begin the day. Harrington overtook him at No. 9, but Woods moved back in front with three birdies in five holes to go to 22-under through 13.
Bjorn eagled the 10th with a 20-foot putt and birdied the 13th to reach 21-under. Woods missed birdie chances on 14, 15 and 17, and Bjorn dropped an 8-foot putt to draw even.
At the 547-yard 18th, Bjorn put his drive into the fairway before Woods left his wide to the right, behind clumps of brush and low-hanging tree branches. He bailed out of the bramble with an 8-iron but knocked it across the fairway into thick rough. From 150 yards out and worried about running off the back of the green, Woods’ touch with a 9-iron was too gentle and the ball landed just inches short of dry land.
"From the rough, I actually hit a pretty good shot but I was protecting against the flier," Woods said.
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