Woods lets golf do the talking

South African Rory Sabbatini had no regrets over his bullish comments about a final-round duel with Tiger Woods that failed to materialise at the Wachovia Championship yesterday.

The Texas-based professional felt he had not been given enough credit for winning last year's Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club, where an ailing Woods was forced to pull out, and was determined to prove the point at Quail Hollow Club.

Although Sabbatini held a one-stroke lead after Saturday's third round, he dropped back into a tie for third after closing with a two-over-par 74 while playing partner Woods triumphed by two shots.

"He got the job done today, I didn't," Sabbatini told reporters after ending a blustery day on nine-under 279, four adrift of Woods. "I don't have any regrets about what I said yesterday. I just didn't get the job done today, and next time maybe I will.

"I felt like I hit a lot of good golf shots out there and just couldn't get the putts to drop," added the 31-year-old from Durban. "It was a tough day with the conditions."

Sabbatini, who dropped four shots in a five-hole stretch on the back nine, had relished the opportunity of taking on Woods in the final round.

"Some people said Tiger had withdrawn (from the Nissan Open) because he was sick," he told reporters on Saturday. "He's here this week; best opportunity I've had to put any of that criticism or doubt aside. I'm looking forward to it."

However, the South African's hopes were effectively dashed after Woods had built a three-shot lead with nine holes to play yesterday.

The game's leading player was fortunate to eagle the par-five seventh after his drive stopped perilously close to the lake right of the fairway. Woods took advantage, hitting a seven-iron on to the green before sinking a 60-foot putt.

"That was definitely a change of fortune there," Sabbatini said. "I don't know exactly how close the ball went to going in the water but it was fortunate to stay up.

"He hit a miraculous shot from there and then hit a wonderful putt. I think at that point it turned things around."

A three-times winner on the PGA Tour, Sabbatini knew he faced a tough task in the final round.

"Being in that position and having to try and force birdies on the back nine, it's not a golf course that you want to be trying to do that because it tends to fight you on that one," he said.

"I think just slight changes, a few putts here and there, and it's a major change of the outcome. But that's not the way it worked today."