Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Late birdie lifts Woods

BETHESDA, Md. - Tiger Woods made it a hat trick of victories in tournaments hosted by PGA Tour stars.

  • Comment
  • E-mail
  • Bookmark and Share
Associated Press
Tiger Woods claimed a one-shot win Sunday at the AT&T National, which he hosts at Congressional.

Woods lived up to his hopes of being a "greedy host" Sunday, leaving Anthony Kim in his wake and then making a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to overtake hard-

charging Hunter Mahan for a one-shot victory in the AT&T National.

Woods closed with 3-under-par 67 at Congressional Country Club for his third victory of the year, the others coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.

Inside the ropes, they all felt the same.

"Whether it's my tournament, Jack's, Arnold's ... it really doesn't matter. You go out there with the same intensity to win," Woods said.

The challenge came from a rising star, just not the guy anyone expected. Mahan made six birdies on the back nine for 62, tying the course record that Kim set Thursday. The final birdie on the 18th gave Mahan a share of the lead, and he waited more than an hour to see if Woods could top him.

Woods twice scrambled for par to stay tied for the lead, then looked as though he squandered a birdie chance on the par-5 16th when his chip from the rough came out heavy and stopped 20 feet from the hole. Backing off once, he rolled in it, then walked stoically to the hole, nodding his head.

He closed with pars to finish at 13-under 267. The 68th victory of his PGA Tour career moved him to the top of the money list and the FedEx Cup standings for the first time this year.

Kim simply couldn't keep up. He shot 71 to finish alone in third, four shots behind.

"I had a lot of fun," Kim said. "I know I'll be knocking on the door again. It's only a matter of time. "

Top headlines

Texas school officials asked about Bedden

Three Richmond County school board members confirmed today that they met with school officials from Irving, Texas, on Monday to discuss their interest in Superintendent Dana Bedden.
Were you Spotted?