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Woods wins Arnold Palmer title
Tiger sinks a 24-foot putt on the final hole to take his seventh title in a row.
Last Modified: 17 Mar 2008 07:04 GMT

Tiger Woods celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th green to take a one-shot win [GALLO/GETTY]

Tiger Woods, world number one, sunk a superb 24-foot putt for a dramatic birdie on the final hole to claim his ninth win in 10 tournaments at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.
Woods went into the 18th hole level with fellow American Bart Bryant on nine-under-par with a playoff looking likely, but Bryant, ranked 137th before the event, was left to watch his more heralded opponent's perfect putt for victory.
Woods celebrated with a punch of his fist and threw his cap to the ground before picking the ball out of the hole as he secured his seventh successive title worldwide.

"It was just a great day. I hit the ball well all day," said Woods, who had been down in 20th place after the opening two rounds.

"It was just a great day. I hit the ball well all day."

Tiger Woods

"I was trying to get the speed right, trying not to leave myself a second putt and it went in," Woods said of his winning stroke.

The 32-year-old said he was more pleased with his drive to the green where, with the wind changing direction, he opted for a five iron and found the green and his chance of that tournament-winning birdie.

"You have to understand I had not hit the ball well the last three days and then to have that shot with everything on the line, to hit a shot and give myself a putt it... I was just so fired up I hit the shot the way I wanted to."

Bryant philosophical

Woods ended the day with a four-under-par 66 for a total of 10-under 270.

Bryant, who has not won a PGA tour title since 2005, was philosophical about his defeat.

"I played the way I felt I had to down the stretch, getting pars to keep the pressure on Tiger," said Bryant.

"But that is why he is Tiger - he has done it before and he will do it again.

"It didn't surprise me one bit. You've still got to chuckle even though you're not surprised. Nothing he does anymore surprises me."

Woods's 64th PGA Tour victory means he draws level with Ben Hogan in the list of all-time rankings, with only Sam Snead (82) and Jack Nicklaus (73) in front of him.

Fiji's Vijay Singh, last year's winner, and Americans Cliff Kresge and Sean O'Hair were tied for third place.

Source:
Agencies
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