MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — The only other time J.B. Holmes played the Match Play Championship, Tiger Woods rallied to beat him. This time, Holmes beat himself.
In the field as an alternate when Tim Clark withdrew, Holmes blew a 5-up lead with eight holes to play against Bubba Watson in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Watson took advantage of Holmes’ 3-wood drive into the desert wash to win No. 11, took Nos. 13-15, pulled even on 18 and won with a par on the 19th hole.
In 2008 in the first round against Woods, Holmes was 3-up with five to go, but Woods fought back and won five more matches to win the title.
