Cink looks to overachieve for a change

2008-02-24

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By Andrew BothPA SportsTicker Golf Writer

MARANA, Arizona (Ticker) - Stewart Cink considers himself anunderachiever in his chosen profession. He can change thatassessment in a big way on Sunday.

Cink has reached the final at the Accenture Match PlayChampionship and a victory against Tiger Woods would do wondersfor his self image.

"I don''t believe I''ve lived up to what I''ve been able to do, andI keep waiting for it to happen," 22nd-seed Cink said afterdusting off Justin Leonard 4 and 2 in their semi-final match atDove Mountain on Saturday.

"I''m patient but it''s been a long time. I''ve made a lot of moneyout here on tour, had a lot of high finishes, but I haven''t hadas many wins (four) as I felt I had a chance to capture. Ihaven''t closed the deal as many times as I''ve had theopportunity, and that''s a disappointment to me, and that''s why Ifeel I''ve underachieved."

Another performance similar to his front nine against Leonardwould go a long way toward beating Woods, who has never beenaccused of being unable to close the deal.

Cink was on fire, 7-under through eight holes, before strugglinga little on the back nine. By then, however, he had built sucha lead over Leonard that it didn''t really matter.

"Boy, it was a hot start," the 34-year-old from Georgia said."Everything was going in. When you get off to a start like that,sometimes you almost find yourself in a position where youdon''t know what to do.

"I think the long day (the morning quarterfinals preceded thesemis) caught up with me, plus I was a little sick at the startof the week with a stomach virus that left me short of energy.Good thing I had a little cushion, because I was leaking oil."

Cink said he was looking forward to the challenge of playingWoods, and not without reason, because there''s no better way totest your game than going 36-holes of match play against thebest player in the world.

"He''s the best that''s ever lived, and just being able to get afront row seat and watch him play is fun," Cink said. "The bestthing I can do is play golf like it''s stroke play.

"That''s what I''ve been doing all week. They say match play is sodifferent because you play your opponent. I don''t buy into thatat all."

Whether it''s different or not, Cink will have to be near hisvery best to have a chance of beating Woods.