San Diego (United States) (AFP)
The star Tiger Woods, who was aiming for an 83rd record title on the PGA circuit, failed to win the Farmers Insurance Open, won by the Australian Marc Leishman, Sunday during the 4th round contested in San Diego.
At the end of his day, which saw him finish in 9th position six shots behind Leishman, Woods learned of the accidental death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant earlier in the northwest of Los Angeles.
"People were screaming + do it for Mamba +. Now I understand. It's incredibly sad," said the "Tiger" whose golfing career began in the same year as Bryant's basketball player in 1996.
While Woods will wait to overtake Sam Snead at the top of the PGA Tour's highest number of wins (82) chart, North Irishman Rory McIlroy will also be patient to become world number 1 for the first time since 2015.
Only a victory for Torrey Pines could answer it. But he finished 3rd three shots behind Leishman.
The 36-year-old Australian made the perfect day to overtake all of his rivals, with eight birdies made to finish with a total of -15. Enough to beat the pawn of the Spaniard Jon Rahm, leading so far.
"Playing well, it helps," agreed Leishman, winner of his fifth PGA tournament. "I didn't hit the tee so well today. But you don't win titles without a good putter. I did it the best I could."
Classification after the 4th round (par 72):
1. Marc Leishman (AUS) -15 (68-72-68-65)
2. Jon Rahm (ESP) -14 (68-71-65-70)
3. Rory McIlroy (NIR) -12 (67-73-67-69)
. Brandt Snedeker (USA) -12 (69-67-72-68)
5. Tom Hoge (USA) -11 (71-71-67-68)
6. Tony Finau (USA) -10 (70-70-68-70)
. Patrick Reed (USA) -10 (69-69-70-70)
. Bubba Watson (USA) -10 (67-73-69-69)
9. Harry Higgs (USA) -9 (70-68-69-72)
. Charley Hoffman (USA) -9 (69-74-71-65)
. Max Homa (USA) -9 (73-68-71-67)
. Beau Hossler (USA) -9 (72-66-73-68)
. Patrick Rodgers (USA) -9 (70-69-72-68)
. Tiger Woods (USA) -9 (69-71-69-70)
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