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MIAMI - Tiger Woods, despite uncharacteristically missing several short putts, held off a late challenge by playing partner Brett Wetterich to win his third successive WGC-CA Championship by two shots here today.
Four ahead at the start of another blustery day at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa,
Woods ground out a one-over-par 73 to finish on 10-under 278.
The world No 1 survived three bogeys over the closing stretch to clinch his 56th PGA Tour title and a 13th WGC (World Golf Championships) crown.
It was his sixth victory in the tournament's eighth edition, and his 11th WGC strokeplay title in 16 starts.
US Ryder Cup player Wetterich, Wood's closest pursuer at the start of the day, birdied two of the last five holes for a 71 and outright second place at eight under.
Australia's Robert Allenby, helped by two monster birdie putts, fired a best-of-the-day 67 to share third place at six under with compatriot Geoff Ogilvy (70) and Spaniard Sergio Garcia (70).
New Zealand's Michael Campbell returned his best round of a disappointing tournament, a three-over 75 as he finished on 18- over.
Campbell was off the pace from the outset, shooting 77, 76 and 78 on the first three days to finish third-last in the 73-man field.
He was 28 shots behind a delighted Woods.
"Conditions were not easy and you had to grind it out," Woods said after laying up short of the green in two at the treacherous par-four last where a bogey earned him the winner's cheque for US$1.35 million ($1.9 million).
"The wind as a little blustery and I had a hard time reading the greens."
For much of the day, it appeared Woods would cruise to victory at a venue where he has won the Doral Championship for the last two years.
As the gusting breezes strengthened, he mixed three birdies with two bogeys to reach the turn in one-under 35 and five ahead of the chasing pack.
After picking up his fourth shot of the day at the par-five 10th, where he reached the green in two and two-putted, he was six strokes clear and seemingly in cruise control.
However, he then missed a four-footer to bogey the par-four 11th and a seven-footer at the par-three 13th to give his closest challengers a glimmer of hope.
Early starter Allenby had already finished but the big-hitting Wetterich began to make his move.
He got to seven under after a superb approach to five feet set up a birdie at the 14th and closed to within three of Woods after picking up another shot at the par-four 16th, where he narrowly missed driving the green.
Wetterich then came agonisingly close with birdie attempts from inside 10 feet on 17 and at the last before having to settle for second place.
- REUTERS
