Tiger's game

DIVOTS

The results show Tiger Woods tied for ninth. But it could well have been something else had he holed that five-footer at seventh on the final day. He had put himself in the frame with a three-under 68 on the third day.

On the final day, with successive birdies on fifth and sixth, he was two off the lead. And if that five-footer had fallen the lead, it would have been one.

Wonder how his rivals would have reacted then? Once he missed that putt, normally a "gimme", Tiger himself lost conviction and became tentative. He gradually gave away too many shots.

The successive bogeys on 11th and 12th finished all chances and with a one-over 72, he ended at three-under 281and in a tied ninth place with Mike Weir.

Vacation time

After failing to get into contention at the British Open, Vijay Singh is taking time off to prepare for the next PGA Championships. Vijay opened with a 68 and followed that up with a 70.

But a third round 76 ended his hopes and then a final round 71 saw him end up at one-over 285 and a tied 20th spot. Vijay, who has played in 20 tournaments so far this year rarely takes a week off.

Cheers for "Monty"

Hometown boy Colin Montgomerie got the loudest cheers at the Royal Troon. But his game has hardly been in a winning shape, more so after his divorce. Yet "Monty" turned the clock back with successive rounds of 69 on the first two days. His fans yelled, "Come on, Monty," and he smiled gamely.

But over the weekend, he shot 72 and a 5-over 76 in the final round to finish at 2-over, 12 off the winning score and in tied 25th place. Monty stayed at his father's house and walked daily to the course, basking in the attention his countrymen paid him. He found some love, and also some of his game he thought was missing at 41.

DiMarco's woes

When everybody was headed to the driving range to practice putting green on Thursday morning, the first day of the 133rd Open, Chris DiMarco, was rushing to the merchandise tent.

Reason: His luggage got lost and he had to buy some golf apparel for the first round. Earlier, he was to have left Philadelphia on Monday, but arrived only on Wednesday as his flight got cancelled(someone had pushed a towel down the toilet and the flight could not take of till the blockage was removed).

Then his luggage did not arrive. Yet he made the cut with 71-71. But over the weekend, he fell apart with 78 and 76 and ended in a tie for the 63rd place.

- Bogeyman