Two years after his personal life and golf career plummeted, Tiger Woods regained his winning status. Second by one stroke with two holes left to play, Woods closed Sunday with two straight birdies to win the Chevron World Challenge by one stroke over 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods holed a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to card a 69, three under par. With an energetic arm swing, he celebrated a long-awaited triumph. The former world number one won his 83rd title, the first since the Australian Masters he won on November 15, 2009 – a wait of 26 official tournaments. Woods crashed his pickup truck outside his home two years ago on Thanksgiving night in a mishap that triggered a series of shocking revelations about extramarital affairs. The victory after a 749-day drought could mark the start of the star’s comeback. Woods wasn’t sure if he felt relief, satisfaction or a sense of revenge. “Whatever it is, it feels wonderful,” he said. “I was in contention for titles twice this year, which isn’t much,” he added. “So this was the third chance to win, and this time I did it.” The personal scandal shattered Woods’ winning image, led to his divorce and the loss of four major sponsors. Since then, he changed swing coaches and caddies and suffered injuries that caused him to miss two majors and miss the cut in another. The other two times he was in contention for a title this year were the Masters and the Australian Open. The Chevron World Challenge is organized by Woods’ foundation, to which he will donate $1.2 million after finishing with 278 strokes, ten under par. “I felt normal, I felt very comfortable,” Woods said. “I’ve been in this situation so many times that I felt very comfortable. Was I nervous? No doubt, I’m always nervous in that situation. But it’s a comfortable feeling and I enjoy it.” “For some reason,” he added, “it gives me a kind of comfort to have a chance to win.”
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