With Tiger on His Tail, Lehman Leery About Final Round

By THOMAS BONK

Jan. 12, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

CARLSBAD —

Tom Lehman is the PGA Tour player of the year, which looks really nice on the resume, but he isn’t sure what it’s going to mean today when he begins the last round of the Mercedes Championships.

That’s because Lehman is tied for the lead with Tiger Woods.

“Tom Lehman is player of the year, but Tiger Woods is probably the player of the next two decades,” Lehman said. “I’m not sure if I’m the underdog or not.

“If I go out and play my best and still lose, we’ll know there is a new kid on the block and he’s way better than we are.”

Fair enough. Now, if you’re looking for an example of how far Tigermania has gone, search no further.

All you have to know is that when the player of the year, who is also the leading money winner, the reigning British Open champion and the acknowledged No. 2 player in the world, starts a final round matched against Woods and isn’t sure if he has the advantage, you don’t even have to check--golf is Tigerized.

And pretty soon, they’re going to start putting stripes on golf balls.

It’s a two-player race to the finish line in the season-opening event at La Costa, where Lehman posted a 69 Saturday and still got tackled by Woods, whose third-round 65 represented the low round of the tournament.

After 54 holes, Woods and Lehman share the same 14-under-par score of 202. Guy Boros is the next closest, but he’s five shots behind at nine-under 207.

Paul Goydos and Fred Couples are tied for fourth at 208, but unless Lehman and Woods suddenly forget how to play or decide to use rakes instead of clubs, it’s probably going to be a two-man match play event.

As for Woods, he’s looking forward to it.

“This is why we play, to get into the position to win,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy it. Being in the hunt, that’s what it’s all about.”

Woods made sure he was in the hunt with a dominating round that included seven birdies and an eagle, marred only by a brief misstep that led to consecutive bogeys at No. 12 and 13.

Lehman had a three-shot lead until Woods reached the 15th, which is where Woods started a four-birdie finishing streak, always a nice way to end a round.

“I was just trying to get myself up for [today],” Woods said.

If Woods were any higher, he’d need a flight pattern. The highlight of the four-birdie streak was what he did on the 569-yard 17th. He reached the green in two, thanks to a 255-yard three wood.

Lehman said he played the 17th a little differently.

“I hit a good drive and a good three-iron and I was still 100 yards from the pin,” he said.

When Woods rolled in a 12-foot putt on the 18th, he had the lead. Lehman, playing a group behind Woods, caught him when he slam-dunked a 30-foot birdie putt on 18 and felt pretty good about himself.

After that one went in, Lehman pumped his fist, which meant he was sort of getting himself into that old match-play spirit. Lehman explained his thought processes.

“Well, OK, you made your four birdies. . . . Watch this one: swish,” Lehman said.

He rescued his round with birdies at 13 and 14, both times stopping the ball within five feet of the hole with his irons.

Lehman said he expects Woods to play well again today and probably for a very long time.

“It’s like waiting for the inevitable,” Lehman said of trying to beat Woods. “It’s like a guy trying to bail water out of a sinking boat.

“Everybody knows Tiger’s match-play record. I’ve got to say I’m not a powder puff either.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

La Costa Leaders

$1.2-million Mercedes Championships

At La Costa Resort and Spa--Par 72

54-Hole Scores

Tom Lehman: 66-67-69--202 -14

Tiger Woods: 70-67-65--202 -14