With win, Woods matches Snead’s PGA Tour record
INZAI CITY, Japan — Tiger Woods shrugged off an early bogey Monday to win the Zozo Championship and tie Sam Snead’s PGA Tour record of 82 victories.
Woods, 43, returned Monday to play the final seven holes in the raindelayed tournament, completing a 3underpar 67 to beat local favorite Hideki Matsuyama by three strokes at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.
“It’s just crazy. It’s a lot,” Woods said. “I’ve been able to be consistent most of my career. … Today was one of those days where I was able to pull it out.”
Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two months ago, his fifth procedure on the problem joint. He was making his first start of the season on the PGA Tour.
“I can still manage my way around the golf course,” Woods said. “I know how to play. I was able to do that this week.”
The fourth round was suspended Sunday because of darkness, and Woods took a threestroke lead over Matsuyama into Monday in the first official PGA Tour event in Japan.
Woods bogeyed his first hole of the day, the par4 12th, but was solid the rest of the way with birdies on Nos. 14 and 18 to finish at 19under 261. Matsuyama also closed with a 67.
Rory McIlroy, the No. 2 player in the world, completed his round with two birdies for a 67 to tie Sungjae Im (65) for third at 13 under 267.
Woods opened with consecutive 64s, with a day off in between because of rain. He shot 66 on Sunday in the third round.
“It’s been a long week,” Woods said. “Five days at the top of the leaderboard is a long time.”
As the U.S. Presidents Cup captain, Woods was asked about picking himself for the team.
“I think the player got the captain’s attention,” Woods said.
Woods’ approach shot on the 12th found the greenside bunker. He blasted out and left himself a long par putt that he missed for bogey, cutting the lead to two strokes.
That was the only time he would falter Monday.
Matsuyama missed a short birdie putt on the par5 14th with a chance to cut his deficit to a stroke. Moments later,
Woods made a birdie putt on No. 14 to restore the threestroke lead.
Matsuyama cut the lead to two with a birdie on par3 16th. On 18, his drive went into the bunker at the side of the fairway, and he hit into the greenside bunker before saving par.
Woods’ approach at the par5 18th found the greenside bunker. He blasted to 10 feet and made the birdie putt.
Woods last played in an official tournament in Japan in 2006 at the Dunlop Phoenix, in which he lost in a playoff to Padraig Harrington. Woods won the Dunlop Phoenix the two previous years.