Feb. 26, 2009

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) -- One day after a ceremonious return to golf, Tiger Woods was on his way home.

Former NC State All-America Tim Clark of South Africa played 16 holes without a bogey and pulled ahead for good on the back nine Thursday, knocking Woods out of the Accenture Match Play Championship with a 4-and-2 victory.

Woods holed out a 50-foot bunker shot for birdie on the 14th hole and appeared to be making a run, but his tee shot on the 15th hole hit a cart path and went over a fence and out of bounds, costing him the hole.

Clark, a pesky opponent with a sharp short game, didn't give him much of a chance. He was 6-under when the match ended on the par-3 16th hole, where he put his tee shot four feet away. The putt was conceded when Woods failed to chip in from just off the green.

"I knew I had to play out of my mind to beat him," Clark said. "I'm very proud of the way I played."