Woods back to winning ways after two years

TIGER WOODS ended a winless streak stretching back more than two years last night as he overcame a one-stroke third-round deficit to win golfs Chevron World Challenge.

Woods shot a 3-under-par 69 in the final round at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, for a four- round score of 10-under-par. Zach Johnson was second at 9-under. It is Woodss first win since the Australian Masters in November 2009.

During the drought, he admitted to marital infidelity, leading to his divorce and the loss of sponsors including ATT Inc. He switched swing coach and fired his caddie, while his world ranking tumbled to No. 52 after his record 281-week run as the top-ranked player ended on November 1st, 2010. Woods has won the Chevron World Challenge, an unofficial tournament that’s hosted by his foundation, five times. The event has a field of 18 invited players.

Woods started the final round a stroke behind Johnson but his fellow American began nervously, bogeying the third and fourth holes before bouncing back with a birdie at the fifth to slip to seven under par.

Woods picked up a shot at the par-five second before dropping back to level for the day through nine after a bogey at the eighth.

Woods then birdied the 10th and 11th to open some daylight only to drop a shot at the 12th and leave it all to play for over the closing six holes. And Johnson was back level after the 13th where he made birdie.

The pair were three shots clear of England’s Paul Casey, who was two under through 17. The 34-year-old reached the turn one-under and further birdies at the 11th and 13th sandwiched by a bogey strengthened his challenge.

American Matt Kuchar lay a shot behind Casey after 16 holes while Hunter Mahan was a stroke further back, also after 16.

Scotland’s Martin Laird surged up to seventh after birdieing four of his opening 14 holes.

Woods had endured a challenging day in Saturday’s third round in gusting winds before finally surrendering his overnight lead to Johnson.

Three strokes clear at the tournament’s halfway point, four-times champion Woods had battled to a one-over-par 73 on a chilly afternoon at Sherwood Country Club.

Woods bogeyed two of the last six holes on Saturday for a seven under total 209, finishing a stroke behind Johnson who spectacularly eagled the par-four last with a seven iron from 163 yards for a 68.

“It was tough out there,” tournament host Woods said after mixing four birdies with five bogeys as unpredictable winds gusted up to 56km/h on Saturday. “The wind was very gusty and swirling all over the place.