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Woods wins in Japan to end 9-month drought
Tiger Woods won his first stroke-play tournament in more than a year Sunday, capturing the Dunlop Phoenix by eight strokes after closing with a 3-under-par 67. Woods entered the final round with a 10-stroke lead and had five birdies to finish at 16-under 264 in the $1.89 million event, the richest on the Japan tour.
This was Woods' second title this year following the Match Play Championship in February. The last time he won a stroke-play tournament was in October 2003.
"I feel great," said Woods, who led from the first round. "To have won on this course and at this event with all the great past champions is a great feeling."
Woods, who overhauled his swing this year and lost his No. 1 ranking to Vijay Singh two months ago, had gone a career-high 20 stroke-play tournaments without a victory. He dismissed the notion he has been in a slump.
"It hasn't been that long since I won," he said. "The last three or four months I've been close to winning. Going through all the changes I've made with my golf swing, it was just a matter of time."
Japan's Ryoken Kawagishi shot a 65 to finish at 272 while South Korea's K.J. Choi also had a 65 for 274.
Woods recorded his first birdie on the par-3 No. 3 when he hit a 7-iron to 2 feet. He birdied Nos. 8 and 9 before adding two more on Nos. 13 and 16.
Woods, who won for the first time in Japan, finished eighth in this tournament two years ago. In other appearances in Japan, he was 15th at the Casio World Open in 1998 and second at the 2001 World Cup, when he paired with David Duval.
Woods said he wasn't concerned that a victory on the Japan tour won't be considered important in some circles.
"But just the way I played here with four solid rounds is enough for me," he said. "I don't worry about sending messages, I'm just very excited about the prospects for next year because of the way I played here."
Woods has now won titles in 10 countries.
"I think it's important to be a world player," he said. "That's where the game is going. The reason why we do it is to grow the game of golf. I know it's enhanced my game because you have to play on so many different types of courses."
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