Tiger Woods wins first golf tournament since scandal erupted

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Tiger Woods won his first golf tournament in two years Sunday when he sank a birdie putt on the 18th hole to edge Zach Johnson by one shot and capture the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

Woods finished at 10 under par to win his own tournament, which benefits Woods’ charitable foundation, for the fifth time after he and Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, had a see-saw match throughout the round.

Woods birdied the last two holes to secure the win, his first since the world’s former No. 1 golfer was engulfed in a personal scandal that erupted Thanksgiving weekend in 2009. The Chevron World Challenge is not a PGA Tour event, though, with an 18-player invitational field.

PHOTOS: Tiger wins Chevron World Challenge

It was Woods’ first victory since the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, 2009, a duration that included 26 official tournaments. Less than two weeks later, Woods crashed his car on Thanksgiving night outside his Florida home amid revelations of extramarital affairs.

After being tied at seven under through the first nine holes, Woods gained a two-shot advantage with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes.

But Woods gave one back on the par-three 12th hole when he pulled a six-iron shot into a bunker and finished with a bogey four.

Johnson pulled even with Woods again with a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 13 as Woods missed a similar putt for birdie and settled for par.

Johnson made another birdie at the 16th hole, and Woods tied him again with a birdie on the par-three 17th to set up the dramatic finish.

Paul Casey, who ballooned to a first-round 79, rebounded to finish in third place at five under after shooting 69 on Sunday.

Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan finished tied for fourth at four under.

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--Jim Peltz