Tiger takes first 2009 title
Added: (Mon Apr 06 2009)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Tiger Woods bagged his 66th win on the US PGA Tour with a one-stroke victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
Defending champion Woods came into the final day five shots behind runaway leader Sean O'Hair, having ended the third day on two-under.
Tiger, who usually carries the Nike SQ Dymo fairway wood, had no trouble making up the ground, with O'Hair finding the water on the 16th to hand the world number one an opening.
Woods holed a 16-foot putt on the last hole to deny O'Hair the chance of a sudden death play-off for what would have been his third title on the tour.
Nike Golf's winner ended up on five-under par after a final round of 67, adding a sixth Arnold Palmer Invitational crown to his resume.
"It feels good," said Woods after picking up his first piece of silverware since coming back from an eight-month lay-off following knee surgery.
He continued: "It feels really good to be back in contention and feel the rush. It's been a while.
"I hadn't been in the mix since the US Open, so it was neat to feel the heat on the back nine again, and got myself into the hunt and into contention."
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson hit some promising form ahead of April's major at Augusta, ending up on two-under to take third spot after a closing effort of 69.
Daniel Chopra was the best of the Europeans - he tied for eighth place on even-par after going round in 69.
Across the Atlantic, Soren Kjeldsen bagged the third European Tour title of his career with a three-stoke victory at the Andalucian Open.
Kjeldsen posted a solid even-par 72 to follow up his course record-breaking third round 62 at the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
The 33-year-old Dane ended up on 14-under par, three strokes clear of Scotland's David Drysdale.
Callaway Golf's Drysdale looked set to force a play-off, but a bogey and double-bogey on 17 and 18 handed Kjeldsen the win.
A dejected Drysdale said after claiming his third top ten finish of the season: "I'm a bit gutted about that. It was quite a good battle and it's just a shame not to hit any decent shots when I really needed to.
"I hit poor tee shots on 16, 17 and 18. When you have to hit the fairways I started missing them."
Playing in his 500th European Tour event, Colin Montgomerie could only manage a 75 and 74 in his final two rounds, ending up tied for 31st place
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