KEY POINTS:
Tiger Woods survived a few anxious moments on the back nine to clinch his fourth PGA Championship and 13th major golf title with a two-shot victory today.
Three strokes clear going into the final round, the world No 1 fired a one-under-par 69 for an eight-under total of
272, finishing ahead of fellow American Woody Austin, who shot a closing 67 at Southern Hills Country Club.
South African Ernie Els birdied four of the first 10 holes on his way to a six-birdie 66 and third place at five-under.
Woods, who claimed his 59th PGA Tour title, became only the third player to win at least four PGA Championships. Fellow Americans Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen won five apiece.
The overwhelming favourite at the start of another stifling day, Woods briefly stretched his lead to five when he rolled in a curling 30-footer from the fringe at the par-three eighth.
As the ball dropped into the hole, he pumped his fist in celebration.
However, the 31-year-old then bogeyed the uphill ninth to reach the turn in one-under 34 and also faltered at the par-three 14th, where his par putt from five feet lipped out.
At that point, his lead had been trimmed to one with Austin and Els his closest challengers.
With typical timing, though, Woods hit back with a birdie at the par-four 15th, calmly rolling in a 12-footer to restore his two-stroke cushion.
He safely parred the last three holes to ensure he ended another year with at least one major title.
Woods has never lost a major when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead.
Britain's Simon Dyson made the most significant move among the early starters, charging up the leaderboard with a sizzling 64.
The Englishman birdied four of the first six holes before finishing on level par 280.
Competing in his seventh major and his first PGA Championship, Dyson signed off in style by rolling in a 20-footer at the last for his seventh birdie of the round.
"Everything just seemed to click today," the two-time European Tour winner said after firing the second lowest score of the week.
"It's one of the best days I've had for a long time."
Woods tied a major championship record with a spectacular 63 in the second round.
Dyson, who began the final round tied for 44th, soared into a tie for sixth place.
SCORES
272 - Tiger Woods 71 63 69 69
274 - Woody Austin 68 70 69 67
275 - Ernie Els (South Africa) 72 68 69 66
279 - Arron Oberholser 68 72 70 69, John Senden (Australia) 69 70 69 71
280 - Simon Dyson (England) 73 71 72 64, Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 75 70 66 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 69 68 74 69
281 - Scott Verplank 70 66 74 71, Kevin Sutherland 73 69 68 71, Boo Weekley 76 69 65 71
282 - Anders Hansen (Denmark) 71 71 71 69, Stuart Appleby (Australia) 73 68 72 69, Justin Rose (England) 70 73 70 69, Adam Scott (Australia) 72 68 70 72, KJ Choi (Korea) 71 71 68 72, Stephen Ames (Canada) 68 69 69
284 - Pat Perez 70 69 77 68, Hunter Mahan 71 73 72 68, Joe Durant 71 73 70 70, Brandt Snedeker 74 71 69 70, Ken Duke 73 71 69 71
285 - Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70 71 74 70, Kenny Perry 72 72 71 70, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 69 71 74 71, Heath Slocum 72 70 72 71, Ian Poulter (England) 71 73 70 71, Steve Stricker 77 68 69 71, Steve Flesch 72 73 68 72, Peter Hanson (Sweden) 72 71 69 73, Nathan Green (Australia) 75 68 67 75
286 - Lee Westwood (England) 69 74 75 68, Phil Mickelson 73 69 75 69, Bart Bryant 74 70 72 70, Brett Wetterich 74 71 70 71, Stewart Cink 72 70 72 72, Shaun Micheel 73 71 70 72, John Daly 67 73 73 73, Luke Donald (England) 72 71 70 73
287 - Paul Casey (England) 72 70 74 71, Richard Green (Australia) 72 73 70 72
288 - Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 71 68 79 70, Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 72 73 73 70, Charles Howell 75 70 72 71, Rod Pampling (Australia) 70 74 72 72, David Toms 71 74 71 72, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 69 73 72 74, Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland) 77 66 71 74, Sean O'Hair 70 72 70 76
289 - Brian Bateman 71 74 76 68, Frank Lickliter 70 75 75 69, Lucas Glover 70 75 74 70, Nick O'Hern (Australia) 72 72 72 73, Anthony Kim 73 72 71 73, Shingo Katayama (Japan) 76 67 72 74, Bob Tway 71 72 71 75
290 - Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 73 71 75 71, Chad Campbell 77 68 73 72, Will MacKenzie 72 70 74 74
291 - Billy Mayfair 76 69 75 71, Paul McGinley (Ireland) 74 66 76 75
293 - Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 73 71 76 73, Brett Quigley 76 67 73 77, Graeme Storm (England) 65 76 74 78, Corey Pavin 74 68 72 79
294 - Todd Hamilton 73 72 74 75, Troy Matteson 72 69 73 80, Tim Herron 75 68 71 80
296 - Mike Small 73 70 78 75, Tom Lehman 73 71 74 78
297 - Ryan Benzel 71 72 80 74
- REUTERS
