Frustration gets better of Tigers Woods at Masters

Tiger Woods had another frustrating day at Augusta National and may face a fine for his club-kicking tantrum on Friday. And Luke Donald has given up on contending at the Masters.

Spraying shots left and blocking shots right on Saturday left Tiger Woods in for another frustrating round at Augusta National and put his chances at wearing another green jacket in to tatters.

Tiger Woods mounted a brief charge early on in the Masters third round on Saturday, but he quickly fell back again and by the completion of his round, his hopes of a fifth green jacket were in tatters.

The day before, he had become the talk at Augusta National when he kicked a club 15 yards after consecutive wretched shots on the back nine.

The 14-time major champion is subject to discipline by the PGA Tour for booting his 9-iron on the 16th hole.

Whether he is fined is not likely to be known. The tour does not comment on discipline.

Woods, after a bad miss with a 4-iron into the par-5 15th hole on Friday, hit a poor tee shot on the par-3 16th.

He let the club fall from his hands, then turned in anger and kicked it. The tantrum received extensive attention at Augusta National, and it prompted the TV analyst Nick Faldo to say that Woods had "lost his game … and lost his mind".

According to tour policy, players can be disciplined for conduct unbecoming a professional even at tournaments that are co-sponsored or approved by the tour, such as the major championships.

The PGA Tour has been criticised over the years for not disclosing fines.

John Daly told the Associated Press in December 2008 that he had been suspended for sixth months.

Even then, the tour would not confirm it.

Last year, the tour would not discuss whether Rory Sabbatini was suspended for his treatment of a teenage volunteer at Riviera and for getting into an argument on the golf course with Sean O'Hair.

The tour has three categories of penalties - minor (fines not more than $10,000 [Dh36,731]); intermediate (fines between $10,001 and $20,000); major (in excess of $20,000).

Starting the day eight strokes behind the co-leaders Fred Couples and Jason Dufner, Woods was looking for a quick rebound after his swing nightmare down the back nine on Friday.

He got just that with birdies at the third and fourth to get to one over, but then he dropped one at the par-3 sixth and a wild drive on the ninth saw him collect another bogey to reach the turn where he started the day: at three over.

Woods could get nothing going down the back nine as several birdie chances slipped by and he parred his way in for a 72.

LUKE DONALD DISAPPOINTED IN POOR SHOW

Woods was not the only one struggling to find his form.

Luke Donald counted himself out of the Masters after a disappointing third-round 75 at Augusta - and it could well cost him the world No 1 spot as well.

After the thrill of pitching in for an eagle two on the third and thinking he could climb back into contention, Donald wrote off his chance after going in to Rae's Creek on the 13th and running up his second seven of the week.

"There's nothing worse than waking up on a Sunday and whatever you do is not going to be good enough," Donald said.

Even if he climbs around 10 places in the final round, Rory McIlroy would need only to finish 20th to take back the No 1 spot.

It also is possible that Lee Westwood could regainthe position he last held in May,

The low point of Donald's round came on the 13th when his second shot found the water.

"I thought I hit a decent shot," he said, "but it missed carrying by two inches."

Missed putts of six feet on the 16th and 18th only piled on the agony.

"I had high hopes for this week," he said. "I will think about my build-up, but I felt ready. At least I won some crystal for the eagle. That's about the only high."

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