Woods ends winless streak

Woods came back from one behind Zach Johnson with two holes to play to beat his playing partner by a shot at Thousand Oaks in California.

The former world number one's last win came 749 days ago at the 2009 Australian Masters.

Woods drained a 15-footer at the par-three 17th before coolly knocking in a six-footer on the 18th green and then celebrating with a roundhouse sweep through the air with his right arm.

"It feels great," a jubilant Woods said greenside after his spectacular birdie-birdie finish ended a run of 26 tournaments around the world without victory.

"It was a lot of fun coming down the stretch. Zach put a lot of pressure on me. He turned the tide (on 16), next thing I am one down playing the last couple of holes. Then I made two good putts."

Asked to describe what emotion he was feelings after ending his lengthy title drought, the 14-time major champion replied: "It feels awesome, whatever that is."

Johnson, seeking his first victory since last year's Colonial Invitational, had to settle for second place after closing with a 71.

England's Paul Casey, who began the week with a 79, finished third on five under after a 69, his third successive round under 70.

Woods' victory will see him climb from number 52 all the way up to number 20 in the latest world rankings.

Woods had conceded the overnight lead to Johnson after a third round of 73, but he only trailed by one shot and it remained tight between the pair throughout the closing 18 holes.

But when it mattered most Woods made back-to-back birdies while his playing partner managed just pars, securing the swing he needed to take the title and the 1.2million US dollars (£770,000) winner's cheque.

Woods pointed to his decision to take time off to deal with knee and Achilles injuries in the summer as a vital step.

"I felt that in order for me to play the way I know I can play, I had to get fully fit. I had to get healthy and to where I was strong and explosive again so I could practice," Woods said.

He pointed out it was rare for him to be chasing a title on the final day of a tournament this season.

"I've been in contention twice this year, which is not very often," he said. "I had the lead at the Masters on the back nine there, and obviously had a chance there at the Aussie Open [where he finished third].

"It feels great. It was a lot of fun coming down the stretch."
Tiger Woods Quotes of the week

"So that's my third time with a chance to win it. I pulled it off this time."

Woods' last title came before the late-2009 sex scandal which cost him his marriage and prompted a spell out of golf.

The 35-year-old 14-time major winner was thrilled to make his birdie at the 17th, turning the final hole into a shoot-out between the front-runners.

"I hit two good putts," Woods said. "(The putt on 17) gives me a chance to win it outright, because if I don't make that putt and come down to 18 it's in Zach's control. If he makes birdie, I can't win.

"So I just wanted to give myself a chance where a birdie could force a play-off, a birdie could still win, or at least have options, and that putt was huge."

Johnson said on Sky Sports HD2: "I'm obviously disappointed. He birdies the last two holes and makes two great putts and you just tip your hat."

Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar both went round in 71 to share fourth place on four under, three clear of Jim Furyk, Martin Laird, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson who tied for sixth.

Scotland's Laird had been seven over par through his opening two rounds but finished with a 70, after yesterday's 66.

First-round leader KJ Choi went into reverse gear after his opening 66, and finished off with his worst round of the week, a 78 which left him 12th.