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Tiger: (Mis)reading the greens

Tiger will still be the one to beat at Augusta, but it just shows you, and I was beginning to wonder about this, he is human after all.

Ewen Murray
Quotes of the week

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Finally, we got the job done in Miami, but what a pity the weather took us to a Monday finish.

When a tournament, for whatever reason, goes beyond the scheduled close of play, it loses momentum. That excitement created by 18 holes, and then the possibility of a playoff is what golf fans want to see. Sometimes it's not possible and it seems that was the case in the CA Championship.

At 8.30am on Monday, play resumed after the rains of the weekend. The final group had nine holes left to play and we had a leader board from heaven.

As the tournament reached its climax, there were four major winners at the top and Tiger Woods two off the lead, but the moment had gone. The fans are not there, the players are struggling to get the adrenaline flowing and the buzz and anticipation of the previous day is just a distant memory.

The USGA should take note. They insist on a Monday playoff if there is a tie for the US Open, and quite simply, it does not work.

The Masters Tournament has sudden death. That works, and so does the Open and US PGA idea of a three or four hole loop. The fans pay for their final day tickets so they can see the conclusion of the event, and that is what they should get if at all possible.

We could have avoided Miami 's extra day if the officials had sent out the same groups that finished round three. Why they didn't, I have no idea.

Nonsense

The television companies would not have argued. Neither would anyone else because Tiger was in the last group. This nonsense of letting the players go to the range after a 30 or 40 minute break is silly and the combination of these two things finished the chance of a Sunday conclusion.

Right, now that I have got that off my chest, well done to Geoff Ogilvy for beating off the multiple talents that chased him all week. One bogey in 72 holes was reminiscent of Greg Norman at Sawgrass all these years ago and he deserves to become only the third player to have won more than one World Golf Championship.

It's tough to lead from start to finish and Ogilvy was up there from the word go. He also had to sleep on the lead one day longer than normal, so in everyones eyes, he was a worthy champion.

There was much to enjoy over the five days as Jim Furyk found his touch again and Vijay Singh confirmed that age is no barrier when you have his desire.

My tip for the Masters, Reteif Goosen, enjoyed a welcome return to somewhere near his best and this is a timely boost to his confidence.

Graeme Storm had a fascinating journey and after reaching the turn in a three over par 39 in round one, he should feel proud of his achievements.

Tiger

What of Tiger? For the first time in long enough he endured a tough time on the greens. I suggested in commentary it might be the Bermuda greens that had been relayed since he last played there, but Butch Harmon confirmed the grass is exactly the same as on his home course of Isleworth.

Tiger putts a lot from memory and he was unable to do that. No matter how hard they tried to put the greens back the way they were, there will always be slight changes, and there is also the fact that any new greens take time to bed down.

The real reason Tiger failed to continue his admirable streak is that he putted like a mere mortal. During this magical run he has holed putts from everywhere, some of them outrageous, all of them devastatingly brilliant.

He will still be the one to beat at Augusta, but it just shows you, and I was beginning to wonder about this, he is human after all.

Monty

As I write this column in Miami airport, I'm sitting alongside Colin Montgomerie. Colin needed a top four finish at the CA and after a poor opening round, it never seemed likely.

Colin will miss the Masters for only the second time since 1992. A blow? Of course it is, but every cloud has a silver lining. Monty gets married on April 19th by Scotland 's West coast and he can now concentrate on that.

His next event will be in five weeks time when he travels to Seville for the Spanish Open. The good news is that he will play in the other three majors this year so there is still a chance that career could get the major it deserves. If it never happens then so be it. He has many fine moments to look back on.

On behalf of the Sky team, we wish Colin and his fiancé, Gaynor Knowles, the very best for the future.

I hate these Trans Atlantic flights and London seems such a long way away, but once home and refreshed, albeit for less than 24 hours, I shall make my way down to Spain 's Costa Del Sol for this weeks Open of Andalucia.

The venue is the elegant Aloha golf course, one of the oldest on the coast. It's not long, but tight and only straight hitting will be tolerated.

Richard Boxall joins me in the commentary box for four days of live coverage and it marks a historic moment for Sky Sports. For the first time at a European Tour event, the pictures will be produced in high definition.

Much as I enjoyed the dripping drama at Doral, a bit of Spanish sun would be welcome this week.

Watch the Open De Andalucia in High-Definition, starting Thursday, 11.30am, Sky Sports 1 & HD1