Tiger Woods ties for 12th at Honda Classic after final-round 70

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Tiger Woods will always be linked to Jack Nicklaus, for better and worse. And while his performance at the Honda Classic will undoubtedly be viewed as a positive step in his comeback, he can point to the Golden Bear as the reason perhaps it was not better.

Woods shot a final-round 70 at PGA National on Sunday to tie for 12th in just his third tournament this year following spinal fusion surgery last April.

But it was the so-called "Bear Trap'' that ultimately kept him from being a true contender.

Woods finished eight strokes out of the sudden-death playoff won by Justin Thomas -- and he was 8 over par on the three-hole stretch (12 holes total) on the back nine…