Golf Central

Stewart Cink certainly doesn't come across as a cocky golf pro with no sense of reality. Interviewed after his victory over Justin Leonard to set up his Sunday showdown with Tiger Woods, he actually called himself an "underachiever."

Usually it's up to us sportswriters to bandy about terms like that, and indeed it was a sportswriter's halting question, which included the word "underachieving", that prompted Cink to interrupt the scribe and use it on himself.

Said Cink: "I use that word all the time because I consider myself to be an underachiever so far. I don't believe that I've lived up to what I know I'm able to do, and I feel I'm waiting for it to happen. I'm patient but it's been a long time."

Indeed, Cink has won only four times in the 13 years since joining the PGA Tour tipped for greatness after an All-American career at Georgia Tech University, the last of them coming in a WGC event, at the 2004 NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

No controversies here, folks: Tiger can stir up plenty of angst against a lot of players - Rory Sabbatini, Stephen Ames and Ian Poulter come to mind - but he's relaxed in the company of Cink. You can tell when Tiger attaches the suffix "-ie" to someone's name.

Said Woods: "Stewie can light it up. I believe he did the same thing to Sergio (Garcia) at the K Club. He can make a bunch of birdies."

For his part, Cink also considers Woods a buddy. The pair have been team-mates on six US Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup squads, and get along even better since the birth of Woods' daughter Sam Alexis. Cink was a father at quite a young age (he was only 21 and still in college when his first son Connor came along) but has long been considered one of the PGA Tour's most mellow, laid-back pros. The final, despite the high stakes, will be 36 holes of two pals having fun playing golf together.

Cink said of Tiger: "I like him as a person, he's a nice guy. We spend a lot of time together. We have a lot in common now, a lot more than we used to now that he's got a baby. I don't know what else to say. He's just a good guy to be around and I enjoy watching him play."

On this day in 1931, Bobby Jones - just retired from competition at the height of his powers - used some rare free time to travel to Hollywood, where he would film the first instructional golf feature, How I Play Golf, at Warner Brothers studios.

The series of films were revolutionary, using new slow-motion technology to illustrate the beautiful, violent grace of Jones' golf swing, which even in the 1920s and '30s was capable of crushing 290-yard drives even with hickory shafts. The results are beautiful to behold even today, as is the languor of Jones' syrupy Georgia accent, and it's amazing how modern Jones' swing looks ...

Errm, we're not going to say we're surprised to see the Big Cat on the first tee for Sunday's final, but let's just say we're relieved. Instead of that Rod Pampling v. Shingo Katayama clash, the world's No. 1 made it through some real scraps to arrive on Sunday, and that audible whooshing sound you can hear is the collective sigh of relief of TV executives ...

Well, that was a fair day's work for Tiger, wasn't it?: It sure was. He played 34 holes yesterday to see off two of the world's best players, KJ Choi and Henrik Stenson, and he got the job done.
You'd certainly say Tiger deserves his spot in the final ...: No question. His journey to the final was fraught with danger ... the amazing comeback against JB Holmes in the first match, the incredible birdie duel with Aaron Baddeley, and then two very tough opponents on Saturday. The only "easy" match he had was in Round 2 with recently injured Arron Oberholser.
And how about Stewart Cink then?: Well, his route to the final hasn't been any easier, has it? First of all, he beat a quarter of Nick Faldo's potential Ryder Cup team in Miguel Angel Jimenez, Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, then had to get past two savvy major champions in Angel Cabrera and Justin Leonard.
It's a wonder Stewart has any hairs left on his head at all ...: I'm not sure if he does ... They might all be gone after Sunday.
You said it, not me ... So who's your pick for Sunday then?: Well, you can't really bet against that guy from California, what's his name?
What do you think Stewart Cink will see on the first tee on Sunday?: He'll be seeing red, I imagine. Tiger's got to be quite relieved he didn't waste space in his suitcase for the "red outfit".
Is it ever a waste of packing for Tiger to take his red duds?: Not usually ... but with match play you never know.
OK, I'll say it if you won't ...: What's that?
The word we're going to have to say if Tiger wins this thing ...: What's that?
"Streak!" ...: You go right ahead, if you have to ...

Saturday's results:
Quarterfinals
Tiger Woods def. K.J. Choi, 3 & 2
Henrik Stenson def. Woody Austin, 2-up
Justin Leonard def. Vijay Singh, 1-up
Stewart Cink def. Angel Cabrera, 3 & 2
Semifinals
Tiger Woods def. Henrik Stenson, 2-up
Stewart Cink def. Justin Leonard, 4 & 2.

For our Sunday predictions stay right on board with us.

Well, so much for that Rod Pampling v. Shingo Katayama clash that we so fearlessly predicted. Now we get down to brass-tacks. Every man-jack in the field still has to play two (count 'em 2!!) 18-hole balls-to-the-wall matches on Saturday to survive. Who is going to handle it and who is going to fold? ... Glad you asked, really ...