Tournament host Tiger Woods sank a tension-packed 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to seize the lead for good and won the PGA National by one stroke over Hunter Mahan on Sunday.
World number one Woods added two routine pars to fire a three-under par 67 final round to stand on 13-under par 267 after 72 holes at Congressional Country Club and claim the trophy at his six million-dollar tournament.
The event, a dream of Woods and his late father Earl, pays tribute to the US military and proceeds benefit his foundation's youth work.
“It's really incredible,” Woods said. “This is a dream that I had - having an event so we could spread the word on what we're trying to do for kids and the military and it has come together in three years,” Woods said.
Woods, who won for the 46th time in 49 US PGA events when leading after 54 holes, won his 68th career crown and third title of the year after Bay Hill and Memorial, which also came two weeks before a Major.
Mahan matched the course record of eight-under 62 set in Thursday's opening round by fellow American Anthony Kim to seize the clubhouse lead on 268 with Tiger still on the prowl and stalking Hunter across the back nine.
{{/usCountry}}Mahan matched the course record of eight-under 62 set in Thursday's opening round by fellow American Anthony Kim to seize the clubhouse lead on 268 with Tiger still on the prowl and stalking Hunter across the back nine.
{{/usCountry}}“I rolled in some putts,” Mahan said.
“The first three days were a little ugly. I swung great all week but today the putting was great. I'm just really proud of the way I finished.”
Woods still shared the lead entering the par-5 16th, where he sent his tee shot into the left rough, put his approach into the right greenside rough and left his chip 20 feet short of the cup.
The 14-time major champion backed away from his putt after being disturbed by a noise, then rammed it into the bottom of the cup to reclaim the lead for good.
Kim was third on 271 after a final-round 71 with American Bryce Molder fourth on 272.
Mahan opened with a birdie and added birdies at the fourth and eighth to move into contention. The 27-year-old American started the back nine with a birdie to launch a run of three in four holes before his lone bogey at 14.
Mahan responded with birdies on three of the last four holes, the last coming on a 15-foot putt at the 18th to put the pressure upon Woods as the superstar was facing his nemesis hole, the par-4 11th.
Woods found weeds and a ditch off the tee and sank a clutch five-foot putt to salvage a bogey, falling into a tie for the lead with Mahan where he stayed until the critical birdie at 16.