GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Tiger Woods completed the best comeback in his PGA Tour career Sunday by winning his third Buick Open title.
The 33-year-old Woods opened the tournament Thursday with a 1-under-par 71 and was tied for 95th, eight strokes behind leader Steve Lowery. But the top-ranked Woods tied the course record at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club on Friday with a 63, then reeled off eight birdies and a 65 on Saturday to rise to the top of the leaderboard.
Woods closed with a business-like 69 on Sunday and finished with a 72-hole score of 20-under 268, three strokes better than Roland Thatcher, Greg Chalmers and John Senden. It was the fourth PGA Tour victory of the year for Woods and the 69th of his career. He trails only Sam Snead (82) and Jack Nicklaus (73) all time.
Woods has now won at least four tournaments in a season for the fifth straight year and 11 times overall. He also improved his remarkable winning record when leading a PGA Tour event after 54 holes to 36-1.
Winning at Warwick Hills had special meaning for Woods, who previously prevailed there in 2002 and 2006.
"Everyone has always supported this event," Woods said. "The atmosphere is just incredible. It's always fun for us players to come here."
Playing in the final twosome on another hot, windy day with Michael Letzig, Woods failed to birdie the par-5 first hole. After a good drive, his second shot skipped over the back of the green, where he hit a poor chip and missed an 11-foot putt.
Woods two-putted the par-4 second hole for par from long range, then pushed his tee shot at the par-3 third hole into the right greenside bunker and blasted out to a foot to save par.
After driving into the right rough at the par-4 fourth, Woods faced 124 yards to the hole. He knocked his second shot 21 feet behind the hole and sunk the putt to regain a one-stroke advantage that he never surrendered.
After pars at 5 and 6, Woods drove into the right rough at the par-5 seventh. From there, he cut a perfectly-executed 5-wood around the trees and found the center of the green. There, he two-putted for a birdie from 42 feet to increase his lead to two shots.
Woods two-putted from long range at the par-4 eighth and ninth holes and made the turn in 2-under 34, two strokes ahead of his nearest challenger.
At the par-4 10th, Woods drove into the trees on the right side and punched a low iron just short of the green. He hit a beautiful pitch-and-run shot within a foot of the hole and salvaged par.
Woods nearly aced the 174-yard, par-3 11th with a 7-iron, the ball bouncing nine feet behind the hole, but was unable to convert the birdie putt. He also parred the short par-4 12th.
At the par-5 13th, Woods drove down the right side of the fairway, then tried to cut a low 5-wood around the trees onto the green. The ball came up just short in a fronting pond, however, costing Woods a stroke. After taking a drop, Woods hit a nice sand wedge within two feet of the hole and escaped with a par.
Woods came up just short of the hole in heavy rough at the reachable 295-yard 14th. From there, he hit a sand wedge to seven feet and burned the left edge of the cup.
The world's No. 1 found the fairway at the par-4 15th, then hit a 4-iron just over the back of the green. He hit a gorgeous chip shot two feet from the hole and departed with a par.
Woods increased his advantage to three shots at the par-5 16th. After another good drive, he hit a 5-wood pin-high on the left fringe and two-putted for a birdie from 37 feet.
With the fans cheering his name, Woods made a solid two-putt par at the noisy par-3 17th, then followed with another two-putt par at 18 to seal the win.
