Woods conquers Worlds again

Tiger's 2-shot victory seventh in 13 tries at championships

? Against the best players in the world, in the toughest conditions this side of a major, Tiger Woods felt right at home.

With momentum slipping away, he hit a delicate flop shot out of the first cut of rough that carried a bunker and stopped four feet away for a crucial par. With his lead down to one, he blistered a 4-iron to the back of the green to set up an easy birdie.

When it was over, Woods left no doubt who was the best in the world at the American Express Championship.

“Any time you get to play against the best players …that’s when it’s the most challenging,” Woods said. “It’s not a watered-down field.”

With bogeys he could afford on the final two holes, Woods closed with a 2-over 72 — only the fourth time in 39 victories on the PGA Tour he won with a final round over par — for a two-shot victory over Vijay Singh, Tim Herron and Stuart Appleby.

It was his fifth victory of the year and his seventh World Golf Championship in 13 tries. Woods finished at 6-under 274. He won $1.05 million to replace Singh atop the money list by about $170,000.

The only thing he was willing to celebrate Sunday at the Capital City Club was the 100th victory for his caddie, Steve Williams.

“People have no idea how big this win was,” Woods said. “It’s not just the player of the year or the money title, it was Stevie’s 100th win. He’s meant a lot to a lot of the success I’ve had.”