Northern Ireland's McIlroy carded a one-under par 69 for 12-under 268, keeping his nerve after Woods who started the day nine adrift -- surged to the clubhouse lead with an eight-under par 62 that eventually left the 14-time major champion tied for second place with Tom Gillis on 10-under 270. Woods, the former world number one who hasn t won a tour level event in more than two years, delivered the lowest final round of his career, firing two eagles and four birdies without a bogey to put the heat on McIlroy. His birdie-eagle finish briefly moved him within one shot of McIlroy, who promptly responded with the second of his two birdies by sinking an eight-footer at the 13th hole. McIlroy made a series of clutch par saves, and with a two-shot lead at the 18th tee laid up for a textbook par at the par-five finishing hole. Woods was in sole possession of second place until Gillis, a journeyman who began the round tied for second two shots back, birdied the final hole to join him on 270. McIlroy earned the fifth official victory of his career. Three of those are US PGA Tour victories, including his record-setting US Open triumph at Congressional last year. Two others came on the European Tour. Woods, chasing Jack Nicklaus s record of 18 major titles, could well be among those contenders also if he maintains the form he showed Sunday. After an eagle and two birdies on the front nine, Woods birdied the par-four 11th. He rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at 17 then belted his tee shot at 18 to leave himself a five-iron into the green. He stuck it eight feet from the pin and made it, drawing a roar from the gallery. Woods s total of 270 was his lowest 72-hole total since a 265 at the 2009 BMW Championship -- his last US PGA Tour victory. England s Lee Westwood also came up big on Sunday, shooting a 63 to finish alone in fourth on 272.
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