Woods sails to eight-shot triumph in Illinois

Published on Sunday 13 September 2009 23:12

TIGER Woods cruised to a comfortable eight-shot victory in the BMW Championship in Illinois last night to move to the top of top of the FedEx Cup standings.

The American's victory at Cog Hill was the 71st of his illustrious career and came as no surprise after his sublime course-record 62 in Saturday's third round.

Coming into the day with a near unassailable seven-shot lead, Woods won by eight strokes this evening to close in on the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

The win – Woods' sixth this season – came courtesy of a round of 68 yesterday to finish 19-under-par overall, eight clear of compatriot Jim Furyk and Australian Marc Leishman.

"It felt like we had a tournament within a tournament," Furyk said. "Tiger was seven ahead. He was kind of running away. It was kind of a tournament for second place."

Furyk's five-under round of 66 saw him make a late charge up the leaderboard though there was never any real chance of him overhauling Woods.

Leishman was two under on 69 yesterday with two birdies and no bogeys.

Padraig Harrington had been in and around all weekend but finished tied for sixth on six under with fellow European Sergio Garcia, of Spain, after a difficult round of 73. Garcia closed with a level-par 71. England's Luke Donald was among four tied for 10th place after a 73 while countryman Ian Poulter shared 20th after a poor 75.

Woods also tied Sam Snead with his sixth season of at least six victories.

Woods won for the first time since the USPGA Championship, where he lost a lead in the final round for the first time since he was 20. YE Yang rallied from two shots behind to beat him at Hazeltine, ending Woods' streak of never losing a major with at least a share of the lead.

Cog Hill became the fourth course where Woods has won at least five times.