Hoffman wins, but Tiger stays No. 1

NORTON, Mass. --- Charley Hoffman couldn't count all the perks that came with winning the Deutsche Bank Championship, just like he lost track of the 11 birdies he made in a Labor Day masterpiece.

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Associated Press

Charley Hoffman poured in 11 birdies to win the Deutsche Bank Championship and earn an invitation to the Masters next year.

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Phil Mickelson reacts to a bogey on No. 15. He needed only to finish fourth to be No. 1 in the world ranking. Instead, he shot 41 on the back nine Monday and finished tied for 25th.

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Associated Press

Charles Howell III

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Blake Adams

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He moved up 57 spots to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings, giving him a shot at the $10 million bonus.

He gets to play all four majors, after not getting into any of them this year. That includes a trip down Magnolia Lane at Augusta National Golf Club to compete in his first Masters Tournament.

"The best perk, hopefully, will be a Ryder Cup berth," Hoffman said after closing with 9-under 62, the best finish by a winner at the TPC Boston since the tournament began in 2003. "Obviously, I wasn't in contention, but I hope I am now. It would be an honor to play, and I think I can play well."

Tiger Woods shot 69 and keeps his No. 1 ranking for the 274th week in a row, with an assist from Phil Mickelson, who imploded on the back nine with a triple bogey and double bogey to shoot 76.

Woods is expected to be a Ryder Cup pick, along with Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink. No one stands out for the fourth selection.

Hoffman wasn't on U.S. captain Corey Pavin's list of players to call Monday night, and that might not change. Even if his name is not called when Pavin announces his four selections Tuesday in New York, the Hoff isn't about to lose any sleep.

"You're not going to take this one away from me," he said.

Starting the final round four shots behind Jason Day, Hoffman erased the deficit with four consecutive birdies early in his round. Then came a mixture of good breaks and great shots.

He thought his 4-iron was short and headed for the bunker on No. 11 when it barely cleared, tumbled through the rough and settled three feet away. From the front bunker on the 13th, trying to get it close on the firm greens, he holed it for an unlikely birdie.

Once he realized he was in the lead, he poured it on with three more birdies over the final four holes for a five-shot victory over Day (71), Geoff Ogilvy (66) and Luke Donald (69).

Hoffman finished at 22-under 262 to tie the tournament record set by Vijay Singh in 2008.

"I had the best seat in the house to watch that," Ogilvy said. "He hit great shots all day. He putted really well, and as soon as he got himself in trouble he'd go and hole a bunker shot or something like that."

It was the second win of Hoffman's career and will put him just outside the top 50 in the world.

Day was wild off the tee early, then struggled with his putter coming in. Donald, who also had a share of the lead early, stayed winless on the PGA Tour since 2006.

The disappointment was Mickelson, with his best chance at replacing Woods atop the world ranking. He started five shots out of the lead, needing only a fourth-place finish to be No. 1. Mickelson was in range until twice hitting into the hazard on the 10th hole for a triple bogey, sending him to a 41 on the back nine.

Golfers needed to finish among the top 70 in the point standings to advance to the BMW Championship, which starts Wednesday at Cog Hill. Steve Marino shot 76 and John Rollins had 79 to fall out of the top 70.

The heartbreak belonged to Kris Blanks, who closed with 70 and appeared to narrowly make the field in Chicago until Charlie Wi birdied the last hole to bump him down to No. 71.

The final spot went to Scott Verplank, who withdrew Saturday with a wrist injury. After learning he was No. 70, he planned a cortisone shot with hopes of playing.

Andres Romero, who started the playoffs at No. 115 and only got to the TPC Boston with a 40-foot birdie putt on the final hole last week, shot 72 and narrowly made it at No. 68. Tom Gillis was at No. 92 until a 65-65 weekend gave him a tie for fifth and moved him to No. 48.