Woods wins individual honor, but Nona wins Tavistock Cup

Mar 27, 2007, 21:40 GMT

Orlando, FL - Tiger Woods fired an eight-under-par 64 on Tuesday to win individual honors at the Tavistock Cup, but his Isleworth team got creamed by Lake Nona to the tune of 22-8.

The win was Lake Nona's first in four Tavistock Cups and Woods collected his third consecutive Payne Stewart Salver for the low individual score. Woods also pocketed $500,000 for the honor.

'We had a great time. Our team played really wonderful golf,' said Ernie Els, Lake Nona's captain. 'It was nice competing against Tiger. Seven birdies around the turn or something like that.'

It was seven birdies in a row around the turn that propelled Woods to the win. Woods' most impressive birdie of the bunch came at the par-three 13th. He knocked a seven-iron inside two feet and had he holed the ace, it would have won his team some home theater equipment.

The format for Tuesday's action at Lake Nona is unique.

Each player in the group plays an 18-hole strokeplay singles match against each of the opposing two players, so each player plays two singles matches simultaneously.

Woods' 64 was good for two victories against Els and his partner, Retief Goosen, who won a Cadillac by knocking his tee ball to two feet at the 17th. Woods teamed with Charles Howell III, who shot a 68 to lose to Goosen's 67 and halved with Els' 68.

Lake Nona darted out to a 10-0 lead after Monday's action, so Isleworth needed a miracle on Tuesday.

Mark O'Meara, the captain of the Isleworth team, certainly got his team started well. He posted a five-under 67 and defeated both Ben Curtis and Mark McNulty. O'Meara's partner, John Cook, only managed a 71 and lost to Curtis' 68 and halved with McNulty.

Isleworth's Scott Hoch struggled badly on Tuesday with a six-over 78. He lost his matches to Graeme McDowell, who fired a 67, and Chris DiMarco, who shot a 70. Lee Janzen partnered with Hoch and carded a 70 of his own to halve DiMarco and lose to McDowell.

Justin Rose took second place in the individual competition with a six-under 66. Lake Nona clinched the match with his play and that of teammate Trevor Immelman, who shot a four-under 68. They both scored a pair of wins over Isleworth's Robert Allenby and Nick O'Hern.

In match four, WGC-Accenture Match Play champion Henrik Stenson of Lake Nona posted a three-under 69 and halved with Isleworth's Stuart Appleby. Craig Parry of Isleworth managed a two-under 70 to lose to Stenson, but beat Ian Poulter, who only shot a one-under 71.

'I knew starting this Tavistock Cup that the Lake Nona team was stronger than our team,' said O'Meara. 'They proved it yesterday. I told my guys to please try to at least give it a good effort and I think they did.'

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