It was the result we all expected but the final day of the US PGA provided plenty of drama as Tiger Woods fought hard to claim his 13th major championship.
Woods took a three shot lead into the final day but that lead was reduced to one on the back nine as Woody Austin and Ernie Els made a spirited fight at Southern Hills.
Woods had looked unbeatable since posting a record equalling 63 on Friday. The win looked even more assured when his nearest competitor Steven Ames made bogey on the first to extend Tiger?s lead to four. The Canadian finished with a final round of 76 to finish tied for 12th. Woods then gave the field a glimmer of hope with a bogey at the second.
Four birdies in the first ten holes gave Els hope but the South African missed two good birdie chances mid-round and bogeyed 12 and 16 to come up just short. Austin made a late charge, which included birdies on 11, 12 and 13, and a bogey for Tiger at 14 reduced his lead to one. The 15th proved to be pivotal as Woods holed a 12-foot putt for birdie to take a comfortable lead into the final stretch. The 31-year-old had a three shot lead playing the last and tapped in for par to claim the fourth US PGA Championship of his career.
The stand out round of the final day went to Englishman Simon Dyson, his superb 64 moved him up to a tie for sixth place on the final leaderboard.
Tiger?s 13th Major brings him within five victories of Jack Nicklaus? record. The World Number One successfully defended the US PGA for the second time in his career after winning in 1999 and 2000.
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