GRAND BLANC (Michigan), Aug 1: Vijay Singh held off a late charge by Tiger Woods to retain his Buick Open title by four shots on Sunday. Fijian Singh, five strokes clear overnight, fired a two-under-par 70 to finish on 24-under 264 at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club and secure his fourth PGA Tour victory of the year.
World number one Woods, back in action for the first time since winning the British Open two weeks ago, vaulted into a tie for second place with a 66 that included six birdies and an eagle-two at the 14th. Woods, eight off the pace at the start of the day, picked up seven shots in seven holes from the par-three 11th on his way to a scorching back nine of six-under 30.
However, the US Masters champion began and ended his round with a bogey and had to settle for a share of second with fellow American Zach Johnson, who carded a 69. World number two Singh, following opening rounds of 65, 66 and 63, clinched the 28th title of his PGA Tour career and his third Buick Open crown with a blemish-free display that included just a pair of birdies.
Leading final round scores (US unless stated):
264 — Vijay Singh (Fiji) 65, 66, 63, 70.
268 — Tiger Woods 71, 61, 70, 66; Zach Johnson 68, 66, 65, 69.
270 — Robert Allenby (Australia) 70, 65, 70, 65.
271 — Dudley Hart 68, 66, 71, 66.
272 — Jeff Brehaut 68, 67, 69, 68; Jim Furyk 66, 71, 67, 68.
273 — Heath Slocum 70, 68, 68, 67; Richard Johnson (Sweden) 69, 69, 67, 68; Craig Barlow 66, 67, 71, 69; Sean O’Hair 70, 66, 66, 71.
274 — Stephen Leaney (Australia) 71, 68, 67, 68; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 71, 66, 68, 69; Fred Funk 68, 66, 70, 70; Steve Lowery 69, 66, 68, 71; Chris DiMarco 70, 65, 66, 73; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 66, 71, 65, 72.
275 — John Cook 69, 68, 70, 68; Larry Mize 69, 68, 67, 71; Briny Baird 69, 69, 66, 71; Olin Browne 66, 73, 64, 72.
276 — Glen Hnatiuk (Canada) 67, 69, 73, 67; Rocco Mediate 71, 66, 72, 67; Justin Rose (Britain) 68, 72, 69, 67; John Senden (Australia) 70, 70, 69, 67; Roland Thatcher 67, 70, 71, 68; Chris Anderson 72, 68, 68, 68; Steve Stricker 68, 66, 73, 69; Hunter Haas 72, 66, 68, 70; Paul Claxton 71, 69, 65, 71; Jason Bohn 65, 69, 69, 73.
277 — Paul Goydos 67, 71, 70, 69; Charles Warren 72, 68, 68, 69; Omar Uresti 68, 72, 67, 70; Hidemichi Tanaka (Japan) 69, 69, 68, 71; Mathias Groenberg (Sweden) 69, 71, 67, 70; Franklin Langham 73, 66, 67, 71; Steve Elkington (Australia) 69, 68, 68, 72.
278 — Scott Verplank 73, 66, 72, 67; J.J. Henry 68, 71, 70, 69; Ryan Palmer 69, 70, 69, 70; Bob Tway 70, 70, 68, 70; Nick Watney 64, 71, 72, 71; Brendan Jones (Australia) 70, 68, 68, 72.
279 — Jeff Hart 71, 68, 73, 67; Wes Short Jr 69, 70, 70, 70; Billy Mayfair 71, 66, 70, 72; Ted Purdy 70, 68, 69, 72; Darron Stiles 71, 68, 68, 72.
280 — Tjaart van der Walt (South Africa) 72, 67, 73, 68; Will MacKenzie 71, 67, 71, 71; Colby Beckstrom 69, 70, 70, 71; Mario Tiziani 70, 66, 72, 72; J.P. Hayes 69, 69, 69, 73.—Reuters
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