Unsurprisingly, Tiger Woods was the star attraction heading into the 2006 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, with the world number one in stunning form on the PGA Tour.
Woods had won his last five events, including the final two major championships of the season.
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He arrived in England looking to make a statement right before that year’s Ryder Cup over in Ireland.
Unfortunately, Tiger Woods was able to head over to The K Club a lot sooner than anyone would have expected as he was beaten in the first round at the World Match Play.
Shaun Micheel was the surprise name to bring an end to Tiger Woods’ five-win streak
Shaun Micheel finished his career with just one victory on the PGA Tour. However, it was certainly a notable win, as he clinched the 2003 PGA Championship.
He had actually finished second to Woods at the same event three years later. Nevertheless, few would have given him much of a chance in the opening round of the World Match Play at Wentworth weeks later.
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In truth, Woods was nowhere near his best. He made two bogeys on the front nine to reach the turn three down.
And with Micheel then going on to make two birdies and an eagle, Woods was defeated 4&3.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Remarkably, Micheel was not particularly happy with how he played against the best player on the planet.
“It was really a tough day. You know, both of us kind of struggled keeping the ball close to the hole and really think the pins were set in some pretty good spots and really forced you to fire back at the pins. He had several balls that were just great shots that came back the distance,” he said.
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“I don’t think either one of us really putted well. He had a couple of chances that almost went in. I played okay. I didn’t putt as well as I would have liked, but, you know, certainly wasn’t expecting it. I was just out trying to have a good time.”
How Shaun Micheel fared over the remainder of the World Match Play at Wentworth
Woods was one of several big names to lose in the opening round, with Retief Goosen, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, and Ernie Els also knocked out by lower seeds.
Micheel actually made it all the way to the final, beating both Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson along the way. However, he was beaten 10&8 by Paul Casey in a 36-hole match.
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Of course, Donald, Karlsson, and Casey would be celebrating a Ryder Cup victory the following week, with a record-tying 18.5-9.5 win for the Europeans.
Woods, meanwhile, would finish the week as Team USA’s leading points scorer, as he won three of his five matches.
And he would secure yet another victory one week later at the WGC-American Express Championship.
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