Broken Tiger slumps to all-time low

AKRON, OHIO: Tiger Woods looked and sounded like a broken man after his final round at the Bridgestone Invitational where he carded the worst 72-hole score of his 14-year professional career.

Top-ranked defending champion Woods fired a closing seven-over par 77 to finish the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational at 18-over par 298 on a course where he has dominated in past years, winning seven times.

“It has been a long year,” Woods said, choking up as he spoke to reporters.

That is as close as Woods has ever come to referring to his off-course problems as he struggles to cope mentally with the reported imminent divorce from wife Elin in the fallout from revelations of his multiple affairs.

Woods was set to finish near the bottom of the 80-man field, shooting over par in every round of an event for the first time since 2003.

With the year’s last major title at stake at next week’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straits inh Wisconsin, Woods looks unlikely to be a contender for a 15th career major triumph as he chases Jack Nicklaus’s all-time record of 18.

“I definitely don’t want to start 18-over next week, so it’s nice the tournament is over and we can focus on next week,” Woods said.

Woods will surrender his world number one ranking if second-ranked US compatriot Phil Mickelson finishes solo fourth or better at the WGC event.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2010.