Retief Goosen held off Vijay Singh on Sunday to win the $4,8-million Chrysler Championship and keep Tiger Woods alive in a bid for his fifth straight PGA Tour money title.
Goosen had a three-stroke lead over Singh trimmed to a shot after 12 holes at the trying Innisbrook course before pulling away for his third PGA Tour victory and first of the season.
The South African finished with a 1-under-par 70, giving him a 72-hole total of 12-under 272, three shots better than Singh and four ahead of Briny Baird — his playing partners on Sunday.
The 10th-ranked player in the world, Goosen collected his 17th title worldwide and seventh between the PGA and European tours since the start of the 2001 season.
He won the 2001 US Open and the Order of Merit in Europe in 2001 and 2002.
With the $864 000 top prize, Goosen moved into the top 10 on the money list with more than $2,7-million.
He also clinched a berth in the 2004 season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii, a winners-only event.
Singh, a two-time major winner from Fiji, could have locked up his first career money title, but he couldn’t keep pace on the back nine, settling for a 70.
In his last four starts, he has won twice and finished second twice.
With only next week’s season-ending Tour Championship remaining on the schedule, Singh leads Woods by more than $750 000 atop the money list.
Davis Love is third, nearly $1,5-million off the pace.
Singh wins the money title by finishing alone in third, second or first next week in Houston.
Woods needs to win the event and have Singh place no better than fourth to finish atop the money list for the sixth time in seven years.
Baird started alone in second Sunday, two shots off Goosen’s pace, but he posted a 72. – Sapa-AFP