Tiger Wins Farmers Insurance Open for Seventh Time


Though there were some missteps down the stretch, Tiger Woods took advantage of the large lead he carried into the final round to easily win the Farmers Insurance Open. The $6.1 million PGA Tour event took place at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

The third round on Saturday was wiped out by heavy, day-long fog at the coastal venue and the players needed to play until nightfall on Sunday, forcing a Monday finish. After posting three birdies and four pars in seven holes to start his final round Sunday, Woods enjoyed a big overnight cushion over defending champion Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney.

Needing only to complete 11 holes, Woods began Monday with five straight pars before a birdie at the par-5 13th. Even after a bogey on the 14th, he still held a large lead over Snedeker. But Woods doubled the par-4 15th when his wayward drive ended up in ice plant and was forced to take a penalty and a drop out of the hazard.

Despite Woods' temporary stumbles Monday, two pars and a meaningless bogey on the 17th on the last three holes resulted in an even-par 72 and a four-round total of 14-under 274, four shots ahead of Snedeker and Josh Teater, who both closed with 69s.

"It got a little ugly at the end . . . kind of lost my patience with the slow play," he said at greenside. "But I took my time on the 18th and got the win."

The slow play Woods was referring to came from the next-to-last threesome in front of him - Brad Fritsch, Steve Marino and Erik Compton - who finished well more than a full hole behind the group preceding them.

Woods matched his total of seven wins in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, second-most victories in the same PGA Tour event to Sam Snead's eight in the Greater Greensboro Open. Woods also now has 75 Tour titles, only seven behind Snead's record of 82. He's won eight times at Torrey Pines, including the most recent of his 14 major titles at the 2008 U.S. Open.

The victory, worth $1.08 million and 500 FedEx Cup points, inched Woods closer to an idle Rory McIlroy, No. 1 in the world golf rankings.

Tied for fourth at 279 were Jimmy Walker and Watney, who both shot 71s, while another stroke back were Robert Garrigus (67), Rickie Fowler (68) and Aaron Baddeley (69).

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