Monday, October 10, 2011

Fan arrested for tossing hot dog at Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods shot a final-round 68 at the Frys.com Open.

Tiger Woods made a charge early in Sunday's final round of the Frys.com Open.

Then he had to get out of the way of a hot dog.

RESULTS: Frys.com Open leaderboard

In a bizarre incident on the seventh green — Woods' 16th hole on the day — Woods was lining up his birdie putt when an unidentified male spectator came running toward the green. Woods, who finished in a tie for 30th, looked up and said he saw a hot dog flying in the air which the man had thrown. Santa Clara sheriff's deputies quickly got the man, handcuffed him and arrested him for disturbing the peace.

"I guess he wanted to be in the news," Woods said. "And I'm sure he will be."

Woods, who hasn't won anywhere in the world the past 23 months and was making his first Tour start in seven weeks, heated up quickly on a cool morning as the last of a heavy fog drifted away over the hills. With birdies on five of his first eight holes, Woods got within five shots of the lead and into a tie for ninth.

But his momentum stalled around the turn, as he made bogey on his 11th and 14th holes before closing with a final-hole birdie to finish with a third consecutive 68. He finished the event at 7-under-277 in a tie for 30th.

Bryce Molder earned his first PGA Tour title after beating Briny Baird on the sixth hole of a playoff. Molder shot a final-round 64 to tie third-round leader Baird (67) at 17-under 267.

The most exciting occurrence on his final holes came at the par-3 seventh, when the spectator walked under the gallery ropes, ran toward the green yelling "Tiger, Tiger," and threw a hot dog, which, while the bun fell to his feet, flew across Woods' putting line and onto playing partner Arjun Atwal's putting line. The fan, who got within 40 feet of Woods, was handcuffed and arrested for disturbing the peace, according to police. His name was not released, but police said he was 31.

Woods was lining up his putt at the time and missed.

"I don't know how he tried to throw (the hot dog), but I was kind of focusing on my putt when he started yelling," Woods said. "It looked like he wanted to be arrested, really, because he laid on the ground, put his hands behind his back and turned his head. So it was one of those things. It was bizarre."

Woods is next scheduled to play in the Australian Open beginning Nov. 10, followed by the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. Woods said family obligations will keep him from playing in the final two Tour starts, including the season-ending event at Disney.

"Unfortunately, a couple times I kind of didn't get the momentum going when I had a couple of chances to make putts or I hit a bad shot," Woods said. "I could have just really got it rolling, and I had a couple opportunities like that, both yesterday and again today.

"I got better every day. And I hit a lot of good putts the last three days, which is good. I felt very comfortable. I just need to keep staying the course. The game's coming."

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