THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Two years after his life and career came crashing down, Tiger Woods is a winner again.
One shot behind with two holes to play, Woods finally looked like the player who dominated golf for so much of his career. He birdied his last two holes Sunday, making a 6- foot putt on the 18th, to win the Chevron World Challenge by one shot over former Masters champion Zach Johnson.
Woods closed with a 3- under 69, sweeping his arm when the final putt dropped, then slamming down his first in celebration. It had been 749 days and 26 official tournaments since he last won on Nov. 15, 2009 at the Australian Masters, back when he looked as though he would rule golf as long as he played.
But he crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his Florida home on Thanksgiving night, and shocking revelations of extramarital affairs began to emerge, which eventually led to a divorce. Since then, he has changed swing coaches and endured more injuries, missing two majors this summer and missing the cut in another.
Now, however, it looks clear that Woods is on an upward path.
This was his 83rd win worldwide, and the fifth time he has captured the Chevron World Challenge, which he hosts for his foundation. Woods finished at 10-under 278 and donated the $1.2 million to his foundation.
The win moved him from No. 52 to No. 21 in the world ranking, and likely will send expectations soaring for 2012. Woods will not play again until starting his year in Abu Dhabi at the end of January.
Johnson finished with a 71. Paul Casey (69) was third at 5 under in the 18-player event.
Hong Kong Open
HONG KONG (AP) — Rory McIlroy rallied to win the Hong Kong Open, holing out from a greenside bunker on the final hole for a 5-under 65 and a two-stroke victory.
The 22-year-old U.S. Open winner from Northern Ireland, three strokes behind Alvaro Quiros entering the final round at Hong Kong Country Club, finished at 12-under 268 on the Fanling Course.
France’s Gregory Havret also closed with a 65 to finish second.
Sweden’s Peter Hanson had a 70 to finish third at 9 under. England’s Ian Poulter, the 2010 winner, shot a 66 to tie for fourth at 8 under with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay (66) and Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul (70).
Quiros, from Spain, had a 73 to tie for seventh at 7 under. John Daly closed with a 69 to tie for 21st at 2 under in the tournament sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
Nebraska Golf Challenge
SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) — England’s Lee Westwood won the Nedbank Golf Challenge for the second straight year, closing with a 1-over 73 for a two-stroke victory over Sweden’s Robert Karlsson.
The third- ranked Westwood, seven strokes ahead after a 62 on Saturday, had a 15-under 273 total on the Gary Player Country Club course. He earned $1.25 million in the 12-player event.
Karlsson finished with a 68.
American Jason Dufner (69) and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (70) tied for third at 11 under. Topranked Luke Dondald was seventh at 5 under after a 72.
PGA qualifying
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Marco Dawson shot a 4-under 68 on PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course to take a threestroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.
The 48-year-old Dawson had a 17-under 343 total. He made three PGA Tour starts this year and also played in 21 Nationwide Tour events.
The top 25 in the six-round event will earn PGA Tour cards. Nationwide Tour player Stephen Gangluff was second after a 67 on the Stadium course.
David Duval was tied for 63rd after a 68 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
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