Evans in contention as Woods' new irons forge course record
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The first prize at the American Express World Championship is $1 million (£641,640), which Tiger Woods knew perfectly well when he declared there were "a million reasons" why he would rather win here than be part of an American victory in the Ryder Cup next week. In stark contrast, Gary Evans would probably pay a seven-figure sum just to pick up a piece of silverware.
Evans, who enjoyed 30 minutes of fame at the Open when he lost a ball on the 17th hole but still finished joint fifth, is the only player in the field of 65 not to have won as a professional. He only qualified with a brave final round in Germany last Sunday which took him into the top 20 on the European order of merit, but a 67 yesterday put the 33-year-old on the leaderboard.
He was a shot off the lead until Woods birdied the final two holes to take a one-shot advantage over David Toms and Steve Lowery. Tiger's 65 was deemed to be a record for the revised course. Using a new set of irons for the first time in competition, he made seven birdies and did not drop a shot.
As much as the Ryder Cup is taking Woods out of his normal routine, he was thoroughly in it yesterday. He has won four of the previous 10 WGC tournaments and thrives in these cosy competitions for the best players. "This is a big event," Woods said. "You're playing strokeplay on a great course against the best players. It's pretty important and I certainly want to win."
Woods has won $40m (£25m) in prize money and earns $60m a year in endorsements, so can it really be the money that drives him? Clearly, though, being part of a team does not thrill him.
"The Ryder Cup is a completely different animal. You can play absolutely lousy and the team can win, and you can win all five matches and lose the Ryder Cup." Told most Europeans would rather win the match than this week, he thought that was "surprising".
Evans, who has been a professional for 11 years, cannot quite comprehend how his season has gone. "It's just all happening," he said. "It does take a long time to get real confidence in your ability but to perform last Sunday under the cosh to get here was massive for me.
"After all these years, I am just desperate to have a little silverware. I don't care where it is, I would just like to win one of these things."
Watching Rich Beem win the USPGA was a boost, however. "It showed the more regular guys on tour that anyone can win," Evans said. "I am not a superstar, I'm just a normal Joe Bloggs, but I am playing all right so why shouldn't it be me?"
On the Colin Montgomerie back front, the Scot, who had a 72, declared there had been "too much talk" about it – can't think who by – and that he had the sort of putting day on which he wished the "holes were square" rather than round.
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