By Bob Harig
Special to ESPN Golf Online
Monday, March 27

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Tiger Woods has a way of unnerving his opponents. Whether it's a monster drive or a clutch putt or the roar of the crowd for any of his exploits, it can typically be a turning point in a round or a tournament.

One such moment occurred on Monday morning during the conclusion of The Players Championship.

But it didn't have the usual ramifications.

After playing catch-up for most of the final round, Woods finally put himself in position to overtake Hal Sutton with an impressive eagle at the par-5 16th hole at the TPC-Sawgrass Stadium Course.

Trailing by three strokes with three holes to play, Woods hit a huge drive while Sutton missed his only fairway of the final round. After Sutton laid up, Woods smoked a 190-yard 5-iron to 12 feet, then drained the eagle putt.

Suddenly, he was just one stroke behind with two of the most treacherous holes on the PGA Tour remaining.

"I knew it wasn't going to go without Tiger making his charge," Sutton said. "All I can say is I was planning on him making that eagle putt. I hope me planning on it didn't force it in the hole for him."

If anything, it strengthened Sutton's resolve.

From that moment on, he never wavered.

Sutton still had a testy 3-foot par putt to negotiate, and he slammed it in the hole to keep his one-shot lead.

Then, after Woods failed to hit the par-3 17th green with a pitching wedge, Sutton smartly played to the middle of the green with a 9-iron.

"I was just trying to put a good swing on it," said Sutton, who hit his tee shot in the water on Saturday at No. 17, leading to a triple-bogey. "That is what you have to do on that hole every time. My only control is to make sure I make a good swing, and I knew I had made a good swing."

Sutton made par, forcing Woods to make a long par putt to stay within one. Woods did, meaning Sutton would be tested again at No. 18.

Woods used a 2-iron off the tee, putting his tee shot in the fairway.

"I was really shocked when he pulled out his iron," Sutton said. "It crossed my mind that maybe I ought to back off and hit 3-wood. But I said I'm not going to hit my 3-wood farther than he is going to hit his iron. I needed the advantage on the last hole. I think I am one of the best drivers in the game, so I am going to play to my strength."

Sutton did, knocking his tee shot in the fairway past Woods, who would have to play his second shot first. When he missed the green with a 6-iron, it made Sutton's approach a little bit easier. He knocked it on and two-putted for the victory.

"It takes a lot of courage to play this golf course," Sutton said. "Then when you have Tiger running rampant out there, that makes it that much more difficult.

"I was really proud of the way I played because I kept my game plan all week long. I played strategic and took advantage when I had a chance. I was going to make sure I did not beat myself."