Woods recalls O'Meara loss after beating Baddeley

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) - Tiger Woods could recall just one similar birdie slug-fest in his career after beating Australia's Aaron Baddeley over 20 holes in Friday's third round at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

"The only other match that was similar to that was the Match Play against O'Meara in '98, at Wentworth," twice winner Woods told reporters after racking up 12 birdies to Baddeley's nine in a tight battle of shot-making at Dove Mountain.

Woods lost to good friend and fellow American Mark O'Meara by a hole in a fluctuating final of the 1998 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in south-east England.

"I think he was 11 under and I was 10 under. I thought that was a pretty good match."

On Friday, Woods and Baddeley treated the watching gallery to a thrilling exhibition of high-quality golf before the American world number one sealed victory with a 13-foot birdie putt on the par-four second, the second extra hole.

Woods had charged two up with birdies on the first two holes before his opponent piled on the pressure with six birdies in seven holes around the turn.

LEVELLED MATCH

Baddeley, 26, took the lead for the first time by rolling in a 10-footer on the 14th green but Woods leveled a tight match after hitting his tee shot to two feet at the par-three 16th.