Cink relishes another chance to tee it up with Woods

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LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Stewart Cink made no bones about it.

Playing with Tiger Woods helps Stewart Cink improve his focus. (How/WireImage)

Inside the Numbers

Cink thru 36 Holes

Category Total Rank Eagles 0 N/A Birdies 8 T22 Pas 27 T10 Bogeys 1 T63 Double Bogeys 0 N/A Other 0 N/A Driving Accuracy 42.9% T59 Driving Distance 282.0 yds. 21 Greens in Regulation 86.1% T1 Putts per Round 31.0 T51 Putts per GIR 1.839 46 Sand Saves 100.0% T1

"Chasing Tiger Woods is always the tallest task on the PGA TOUR," he said simply, and only those who have lost total control of their faculties would argue with that assessment.

Cink gets another chance on Saturday when he starts the third round of the Buick Invitational five strokes behind the game's No. 1 player. He'll play with Woods and TOUR rookie Kevin Streelman in the day's final group at Torrey Pines South.

The crowds here in southern California are sure to be huge and vocal in support of their native son. And as if that isn't challenge enough, Woods has won the Buick Invitational the last three years, and five times overall.

Cink, though, likes sharing the same tee box as the phenomenal Woods. Unlike younger players who might find themselves battling their nerves, the lanky Georgian sees it as a chance to kick his game up another notch, as Emeril might say.

"I like playing with Tiger," said Cink, who shot 69 Friday on the South Course to move to 7 under. "I think playing with Tiger it seems like you up your focus a little bit more."

Sure, there's movement in the crowd, Cink says. But that's to be expected when you're playing in the final groups on the weekend. You just have to shut the distractions out and focus on the "tallest" task at hand.

"Playing with Tiger you have to ramp it up a little bit anyway," he said. "I enjoy playing with him, plus he's a good guy. I've known him for a long time."

The two have been teammates at the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. They've had their duels, as well, most notably at the 2006 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational where Cink birdied two of his last three holes to force a playoff that Woods won on the fourth extra hole.

Asked how he prepares for Woods, whether he changes his approach or his mental outlook, Cink said there's really nothing you can do other than your best.

"If there was something I could do to enhance my game a little bit, hopefully I would have already done it before I got here," Cink said. "You go out there and you hope that you can really stay focused and centered and play to the very best of your abilities because that's what it's going to take to put some pressure on Tiger.

"It's going to take my best, and hopefully I can show up this weekend."

Cink tied for 25th last week at he opened the 2008 season at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic with a 15-under-par effort. He has continued that solid play this week at Torrey Pines, hitting 86 percent of his greens in regulation and ranking fifth in average proximity to the hole once there.

"The last couple rounds have been pretty solid," Cink said. "Today I played a little bit better on the South, even though my scores were higher, but the course is difficult. Overall, I think the windy weather and soft conditions are adding up to a little bit higher score than usual, and I'm pleased."

Torrey Pines certainly seems to suit Cink's game. He has played the Buick Invitational seven times and only missed one cut. He's never finished lower than 28th and counts a tie for 10th in 2004 as his best.

"It's not just that your game is in great shape," Cink said, talking about his comfort zone. "Having a course that the tee shots fit your eye and you feel comfortable with the way the ball is carrying distance-wise (is important).

"The greens, even though these aren't the smoothest greens, there's almost an art to playing some of these poa annua-type greens. The steep hills, you've got to play a lot of break, and it's just a certain way you have to let your ball break.

"If you feel good on the course from the tee and on the greens, then that's a big key to playing well the whole course."

With or without Woods in your group.