Bodog Beat

Tiger Woods had to work for his match-play victory. (AP Images)

It’s only a few hours old but it’s already being called one of the greatest match-play contests ever.

Aaron Baddeley did his best impersonation of the New York Giants, going toe-to-toe with Tiger Woods in a shocking display of high-level golf by both players. In the end, however, Baddeley couldn’t pull off what would have been a monumental upset.

Woods needed to hit a 13-foot putt on the second extra hole Friday to advance in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz.

"I birdied, he birdied," Woods said of the back-and-forth encounter. "He birdied, I birdied. It was unbelievable how many birdies we made out there today."

The total was 22. Baddeley, a 26-year-old Australian, had three opportunities to close out Woods but failed each time. Tiger advanced to face K.J. Choi in the quarterfinals on Saturday at the Gallery of Dove Mountain course.

Not surprisingly, Woods is the overwhelming favorite to win the event despite his difficult time on Friday. He holds PGA golf odds of 11/10 to take the title. Vijay Singh is the second choice, way back at 12/1.

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