Angel Cabrera probably thought he had no chance. Everyone else almost certainly figured he had no chance. More to the point, everyone else was wondering “who is Angel Cabrera?â€.
Well, he is a 37-year-old Argentinian who is 12th on the European Tour’s career earnings list with one tournament title and he had just finished his fourth round at the 2007 US Open at one-under-par 69 for a one-stroke lead.
All that separated him from his first Major title was Tiger Woods. No surprise there. Woods needed a birdie with a few holes left to force a play-off with Cabrera.
Tiger – the mentally toughest player on the planet – in a Major tournament, needing birdie, with four holes left? Indeed, it appeared Cabrera had no chance.
However, as Tiger gradually ran out of holes at brutal Oakmont, and his approaches ran past the holes, Cabrera, trying and failing to look calm and collected as cameras focused on him watching the action on TV, was finally able to let out a huge sigh of relief.
All that tension was justified. After all, what can be more unnerving than knowing that the fate of the US Open was out of your hands … and in those of Tiger Woods?
Cabrera’s total of five-over-par 285 featured the only two sub-par rounds from a single individual all week, as well as a six-over 76 on Saturday that left him four off the pace heading into the final day.
Smoking like a chimney to battle nerves, Cabrera gave Argentina their first Major champion since Roberto de Vicenzo at the 1967 British Open.
Probably the most satisfying aspect of his victory was being able to thwart Woods, as he was quoted as saying by Associated Press, via Yahoo:
“The good thing is that I beat everybody here, not only Tiger Woods. I had to work as a caddie to put food on the table. That’s why, probably, these moments are enjoyed even more.â€
Woods, with 12 Major titles to his name, was hoping to close in on Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18. However, Nicklaus also finished second in Majors 19 times, though it didn’t make the American feel any better. Woods said:
“Finishing second is never fun. You play so hard and it’s just disappointing.â€
Another disappointed player was American Jim Furyk, who, like Woods, need birdie over the last few holes to force a Monday play-off.
However, on 17, Furyk failed to reach green with a driver and found rough instead. He ended up with a bogey five, which ended his chances.
I thought for sure Tiger would, at a minimum, force a playoff with Cabrera. This was a very good opportunity for Tiger to end his streak of not coming back when starting the final round behind the leader. Unfortunately, as we already know, he did not.
keep the good stuff comin’ Andy!