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Woods Bests Baddeley In 20 Holes

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A Tribune staff, wire report

Published: February 23, 2008

MARANA, Ariz. - Tiger Woods made 12 birdies in 20 holes and needed every one of them Friday in a brilliant duel with Aaron Baddeley that sent the world's No. 1 player into the quarterfinals of the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Rarely has Woods played at such a high level, only to have another player match him step for step, birdie for birdie.

Baddeley, who shot 80 in the final round of the U.S. Open the last time he played alone with Woods, was 1 up with three holes to play and twice had putts to end the match. A tough, 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole broke sharply below the hole, and his 12-foot eagle putt on the 19th hole burned the left edge of the cup, giving Woods new life.

Woods' final birdie was from 13 feet, and it was good all the way. He removed his cap when the ball was still a foot away from dropping, and he looked relieved after winning his longest match in his nine years at this tense tournament.

"It was quality shot after quality shot," Woods said. "Matches like that are fun to be a part of."

Baddeley was runner-up to Woods in the BMW Championship during the playoffs in September, the first of four straight official victories for Woods. The Australian made 10 birdies, including five in a row to start the back nine, one of them conceded from 12 feet when Woods' tee shot plunked a marshal on the head and went into the sagebrush of the Dove Mountain desert.

What he needed was an eagle on the 19th hole. Instead, he became the latest victim to Woods, who has twice produced late rallies in his bid to continue a streak of victories dating to early September.

"I played great, you know?" Baddeley said. "I made him have to win it."

Woods advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth time in nine years. He will face K.J. Choi, a 1-up winner over Paul Casey.

The Americans, who started the tournament with a record-low 20 players, now have one player still remaining in each of the four brackets.

Tampa native Woody Austin easily handled Boo Weekley, 3 and 2, to advance to play defending champion Henrik Stenson, who hung on to beat Jonathan Byrd.

Stewart Cink took advantage of sloppy play by Colin Montgomerie to deny the Scot valuable world ranking points, winning 4 and 2. Cink will play U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, who made six birdies on the front nine and beat Steve Stricker, 4 and 3.

Justin Leonard reached the quarterfinals for the first time and joined Cabrera as the only players to have not played the 18th hole after three rounds. Leonard dispatched of Stuart Appleby, 3 and 2, after running off five straight birdies at the turn.

Leonard will face Vijay Singh, who rallied from 2 down with two holes to play, then beat Rod Pampling on the 25th hole.

PGA: John Merrick shot a 2-under 68 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead over Brian Gay in the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Merrick had an 8-under 132 total on the Greg Norman-designed El Cameleon course. Norman missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 70.

LPGA: Michelle Wie made the cut with two strokes to spare in the Fields Open at Kapolei, Hawaii, following her opening 3-under 69 with a 73 that left her 10 strokes behind leader Jeong Jang with one round left.

GASPARILLA INVITATIONAL: Tampa's Peter Dachisen shot a 67 to take the first-round lead at Palma Ceia Country Club.

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