It never seemed in doubt Sunday but now it's official: Tiger Woods has completed one of the greatest comebacks in American sports history, winning the Tour Championship 2018 for his first PGA Tour victory since 2013.
Woods, followed by a noisy gallery of thousands as he walked up No. 18 with the lead, smiled broadly in his trademark Sunday red shirt.
"It was a grind out there," Woods said moments after the round on NBC. "As the year progressed I proved that I could play and found my swing and put the pieces together."
Woods said he was nearly moved to tears walking up No. 18 with a noisy gallery shouting his name as victory was imminent.
"I was having a hard time not crying come up the last hole. So it was...suck it up and hit some shots."
Woods shot a 71 today, finished 11-under. Billy Horshel finished second at 9-under.
The FedEx Cup was also on the line Sunday and Woods made a run at that. Justin Rose approached the par 5 No. 18 needing a birdie and a Woods victory to win the FedEx Cup and its $10 million check. Rose birdied the hole and Woods claimed the Tour Championship -- making Rose the FedEx Cup 2018 winner.
But the storyline on this day with the gallery at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club was focused on Woods, who overcome remarkable health odds to claim another PGA victory. Woods thought his career might be over last season when he struggled under the burden of four back surgeries.
"I started hitting me that I was going to win the tournament, and I started tearing up a little bit," Woods said, after accepting the trophy. "I just can't believe I pulled this off. It's been tough. I've had a not-so-easy last couple of years and I have worked my way back."
Woods regained form in the second half of 2018, earning a spot among the Tour Championship's 30 players. He was in control during the Tour Championship for all four rounds, beginning Sunday's final round with a three-stroke lead that he never relinquished. After making birdie on No. 1 Sunday, Woods avoided trouble throughout the day cruising to a win. The greatest drama Sunday was for the FedEx Cup.
Woods last won the Tour Championship in 2007 at East Lake. In all, he now owns 80 PGA Tour titles, second to Sam Snead with 82. His last came at the 2013 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, a span of 1,876 days.
The second half of the 2018 PGA Tour season has been remarkable for Woods even though he had not yet won. A top 10 finish at the British Open, a strong finish at the PGA Championship and strong finishes in the final FedEx Cup events highlighted a remarkable comeback year. But Woods wanted to end his five-year streak without winning.
"I would love to win this event," Woods said before Sunday's final round. Earlier this year he called himself a "walking miracle." He said he didn't know anybody who had experienced lower back fusion surgery who could swing the golf club with the speed he can.
Woods will play for the United States in next week's Ryder Cup. He was a captain's pick. The crowd previewed the Ryder Cup as Wood's stood near the No. 18 green.
"USA, USA, USA," they chanted.
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