Woods claims WGC-Cadillac Championship

MIAMI (AFP) –

Tiger Woods poses with the Gene Sarazen Cup after winning the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Doral, Florida on March 10, 2013. He closed with a one-under 71 for a two-shot victory.

Tiger Woods captured the WGC-Cadillac Championship at the Blue Monster course with a closing round of one-under 71 for a two-shot victory over fellow American Steve Stricker.

Woods earned his 76th career PGA Tour win and posted his second victory of the year as he steps up his game ahead of the upcoming Masters tournament in April.

Woods improved to 40-2 with the outright lead going into the final round on the PGA Tour, fending off a star-studded leaderboard on Sunday to finish at 19-under 269.

The 14-time major championship winner Woods sank his final putt, picked up the ball and put it in his right pocket before waving his black cap to the crowd on No. 18.

“I played well this week,” said Woods, who collected $1.5 million in prize money. “It was one of those weeks where I felt good about the way I was playing and I made some putts. I pretty much got it rolling.”

Steve Stricker watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship on March 10, 2013. Stricker closed with a four-under 68 to finish at 17-under-par 271.

The 37-year-old Woods posted his 17th career WGC victory, though it was only his first in four years. He has not won a major title in almost five years but hopes to change that with a win in the 77th Masters running April 11-14.

Woods has won a handful of PGA tournaments over the past two years but this was his first in some time against an elite field with most of the top 50 players in the world competing.

Woods made it interesting at the end by making bogey on two of his last three holes.

He needed just 100 putts over the four rounds, the fewest he’s had in his career in a 72-hole tournament.

“It feels good, especially to play that well this entire week on a difficult set up,” Woods said. “The greens got really quick out there today. If you left the ball in the correct spot, you could be pretty aggressive and shoot a good number.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off during the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida on March 10, 2013. He fired a seven-under 65 to finish in a tie for eighth at minus-10.

“If you didn’t, boy you had to putt so defensively. The wind was moving the balls on the greens.”

Stricker closed with a four-under 68 to finish at 17-under-par 271. Despite the impressive rally, he couldn’t make up the difference between himself and Woods and finished runner-up for the second time this season.

Woods’ playing partner Graeme McDowell, of Northern Ireland, posted a double-bogey on the final hole to finish at even-par 72. He was joined in third place at minus-14 by Sergio Garcia (69), Phil Mickelson (71) and Adam Scott (64).

McDowell blamed his putting for his downfall.

Graeme McDowell is pictured during the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship on March 10, 2013. He posted a double-bogey on the final hole to finish in third place at even-par 72.

“I can’t fault my ball striking this weekend,” McDowell said. “Tee to green I did everything I had to do.

“But as these greens got firmer, faster and crustier, my pace and my speed got slower and slower. I wasn’t putting with the same authority I had on Thursday and Friday.”

American Keegan Bradley had a 71 to end alone in seventh at 12-under 276.

World number one Rory McIlroy fired a seven-under 65 to finish in a tie for eighth at minus-10. He was joined by 2012 champion Justin Rose (68), Peter Hanson (70) and Michael Thompson (73).

McIlroy said he feels much better about his play after admitting recently he made a mistake by pulling out of the Honda Classic tournament earlier this month.

“I was pretty down about my game coming into this week,” McIlroy said. “A few days like I’ve played, it does my confidence a world of good.”