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 Wannamaker Trophy Slips Out Of Reach - 16.08.04       

It just wasn’t meant to be.   Vijay Singh finally claimed the trophy I was hoping to bring home with me, but at least I gave myself a chance of winning it.
The disappointment of slipping out of contention - and slipping is the appropriate word after what happened on the sixth - did not however inflict any permanent damage because I left Whistling Straits without any reason to beat myself up.
But I know one thing after an interesting week on the shoreline of Lake Michigan… and how on earth they call that vast expanse of water a lake when it is almost the size of England, I don’t know.
What I learnt was never to wear soft spikes again.   The tee was up on the sixth and I decided to go for the green on the par four, but my left foot slipped just before impact and the ball finished in an unplayable lie.   I then thought I’d hit the perfect chip only to see the ball catch the top of a bunker and roll back in.  I could only come out sideways and was fortunate to get down in two more from about 30yards for a double bogey.
It was gutting especially after negotiating the difficult early holes and staying so patient.
I’m not looking for excuses but that slip was definitely the turning point of my round and fortunes.   At least I gave myself a chance to win and had fantastic support from the galleries.
Vijay had just picked up the Wannamaker Trophy when seven of us including Lee Westwood and my manager Chubby Chandler boarded a very nice 10-seater private plane for the hour long flight to Akron where this week I will be defending my NEC crown.
Follow my progress on here and keep your fingers crossed.

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