Tiger pounces past Hunter

BETHESDA – Tiger Woods turned a Hunter into the hunted on Sunday, stalking his prey for several holes before pouncing on a rare birdie chance to win the PGA National by one stroke over Hunter Mahan.

World number one Woods sank a tension-packed 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 16th hole to seize the lead, then added two routine pars to capture his 68th career title and third of the season in his final British Open tuneup.’This golf course is not easy and we only have basically one real birdie chance coming in, which was 16,’ Woods said. ‘At the very end it started going left and it was like, ‘Oh God just don’t lip out now.’ It went in.’ The 14-time major champion who doubled as tournament host shot a three-under par 67 final round to finish on 13-under par 267 at Congressional Country Club and claim the one million-dollar top prize at the six million-dollar event.’It was kind of in Tiger’s court there,’ Mahan said. ‘I’m proud of how I played.’Mahan matched the 18-hole course record of eight-under 62 set in Thursday’s opening round by fellow American Anthony Kim to seize the clubhouse lead on 268 with Tiger still on the prowl and stalking Hunter across the back nine.’I don’t know what golf course he was playing. I didn’t see a 62 out there,’ Woods said. ‘He put so much pressure on us. We had to play really well. There was a lot of heat back there.’Woods sent his tee shot at the 16th into the left rough, put his approach into the right greenside rough and left his chip 20 feet short of the cup. – Nampa-AFP

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