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nanticipated 84 kilometer per hour winds abruptly interrupted the proceedings shortly after the first round of play got underway at the (WGC) World Golf Championships in Doral, Florida.

This occurred moments before Tiger Woods was scheduled to tee off. The venue was none other than the legendary TPC Blue Monster at Doral, known for its numerous fairway lining lakes. The storm passed but not before 17 trees were rooted and divers summoned to recover television equipment that received a watery welcome.

Mother Nature prompted the usually tight-lipped Fijian Vijay Singh to quip: “It was like a hurricane.”

Woods and Singh were among 69 players invited from golf’s global elite to participate in the prestigious event. Forty-seven of the world’s top 50 players were in the mix.

The likelihood of a Snakes-and-Ladders style reshuffling of the world’s golf ranking was a distinct possibility. Martin Kaymer of Germany, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald of England, Graeme McDowell of Ireland and Tiger Woods of the US, respectively, rounded out the top 5.

Woods was paired with McDowell and world number 6, Phil Mickelson, in the first round. Woods put the ominous storm clouds behind him once play resumed but could only post a vanilla 2 under par 70, 6 strokes behind leader and fellow American Hunter Mahan at 8 under par.

Woods was a distant pursuer as Mahan had Ryo Ishikawa of Japan one shot back at 7 under and world number 1 Kaymer 2 strokes off the pace at 6 under par after the 1st round.

When asked about his strategy Mahan said: “I just kind of want to trust my game, trust my swing and just let everything kind of flow. I got off to a good start and that just kind of gives you a little confidence and gives you a little momentum.”

Woods struggled mightily with all aspects of his game and could only salvage a 2 over par 74 after round 2. Falling a full 9 strokes behind Mahan who followed up with a 1 under 71 in round 2, Woods expressed disgust. “Well, nine back, you’re not going to have a lot of fun when you’re nine back. I don’t know if a lot of people are very happy with that but I’m not,” he said.

Now in second place after shooting a gutsy 3 under par, Kaymer was only 1 stroke short of the lead at 8 under par. He was asked in jest if he knew the number of strokes by which he had beaten his playing partner and world number 2, Lee Westwood. He was quick to say: “Eight, yeah. I played with him.”

There were 4 players at 7 under par, 2 strokes off the lead after round 2 including Luke Donald and American Nick Watney. When the media inquired as to his caddie’s unruly long hair Watney responded: “We made a deal that as soon as we finish out of the top 10 then he’ll get a haircut. It’s been a couple of months now, we finished every tournament in the Top-10, so it’s getting kind of long and nasty.”

The conclusion of round 3 on Saturday gave rise to yet another leader. This time it was American Dustin Johnson who shot a numbing 7 under par 65 to bring his total to 13 under. Johnson headed into Sunday 2 strokes ahead of 3 players at 11 under par.

The trio was comprised of Luke Donald, American Matt Kuchar and Nick Watney. Johnson, one of the longest hitters on tour, commented on mastering the Blue Monster’s legendary wind: “The wind was blowing but it was kind of steady in one direction where the past couple of days it’s been swirling a little bit. It’s a wind that you can [use to] attack the golf course a little bit pure in the fairway.”

The 26-year-old Johnson was looking to follow up from his last victory on Tour at last September’s BMW Championship in Chicago. As a beautiful Sunday dawned, there were 9 players within 4 strokes of Johnson’s lead with a realistic chance to capture the Sarazen Trophy.

The fidgety Nick Watney got off to a quick start with 2 birdies on the first 2 holes and after 9 holes he found himself tied for the lead with Johnson at 14 under par. Nick seized control of his destiny with stellar putting on the back 9.

He took the lead at 15 under par after Johnson bogeyed the 16th hole and never looked back. Nick then birdied the diabolical par 4, 18th hole with a crucial putt to extend his lead by a stroke and finish at 16 under par.

Johnson must have felt his heart sink when he gazed over at the green just as Watney’s putt conquered the hole. Watney had just won $1.4 million and notched the biggest victory of his career beating the best the world could offer. The 29-year-old tried to control his emotions after the triumph and said: “Golfing wise it’s the best day of my life, I’m on cloud nine right now trying to soak it all in!”

Watney’s caddie Chad Reynolds was so excited that he forgot to take the flag from the 18th hole. In fact Luke Donald’s caddie Jim McLaren ran over to him and handed him the flag saying: “I wish it was mine but this is yours.”

Nick needed only 22 putts in the final round to vanquish his foes. Watney was also modest in his response when asked if he was now one of the best American players: “The World Rankings are what they are. It’s very cliche, but that’s not why I play. I play for feelings like this. If one day you guys decide that, then I’ll be honored, but I don’t really think about that.”