As perfect days go, April 18 was a keeper for Woods. It was his birthday (he's 59). He talked to Mom. And best of all, the actor got to spend it chasing $3,760,165 in the WPT World Championship (airing June 28 on the Travel Channel) at Las Vegas' Bellagio hotel. Woods explains: ''It's like the Thrilla in Manila with cards.''
11:52 AM
Woods settles in: table 3, seat 3. Here, he's known as Jimmy. ''I don't
need luck because I'm going to win the f---ing thing. I'm serious.''
12:58 PM
A risky play nets Jimmy five grand. ''Did you see that monster bluff?
That's poker, baby!''
1:42 PM
Jimmy is up 17 thou at the first break.
3:29 PM
Break No. 2, and none too soon. ''Well, I've lost $22,000. That was fun,''
he cracks. The ups and downs continue through hundreds of hands...
8:55 PM
Day one ends with Jimmy's chip count at more than $60,000. ''It's like
World War I. I'm going to dance between the raindrops of shrapnel and
get to the other side.'' He stops himself—for once. ''That's poetic. I'm
getting too poetic.''
