Woods marks 2003 debut with Buick title

Tiger Woods marked his first tournament of 2003 by firing a closing four-under-par 68 to win the $4.5 million Buick Invitational by four strokes from Sweden's Carl Pettersson on Sunday.

The world number one finished with a 16-under total of 272 at the Torrey Pines South course to claim the 35th victory of his career and pick up a cheque for $810,000.

Woods's recent knee surgery and rehabilitation seemed to be a distant memory. "I couldn't have asked for a better start," he told reporters.

To have played 72 holes without being sore, which is a big positive, and to have won the tournament is another big positive."

Brad Faxon (72), who was one shot adrift of leader Woods overnight, came third on 277. World number three Phil Mickelson (72), Briny Baird (71) and PGA Tour rookie Arron Oberholser (71) shared fourth place on 278.

The anticipated showdown between Woods, playing competitively for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in December, and Mickelson never materialised as the left-hander failed to get closer than two strokes.

Woods, 27, in the same group as Mickelson and Faxon, powered to his 27th win in 29 attempts when leading after 54 holes.

Mickelson, who began the day two off the lead, parred the first 10 holes and bogeyed the next two to fall seven shots off the pace. Faxon's hopes took a nosedive when he bogeyed the opening hole and he also never got closer than two strokes.

Using these 72 holes as a test for his knee, Woods recorded one eagle, 18 birdies and only four bogeys.

"When you're cooped up on the couch forever, you know, laying at home and just practising...I miss competing," he said.

"That, to me, is my rush, it's going out there and having to hit a golf shot that really matters."

Woods took control on Sunday with three birdies in the first six holes.

"Tiger put on the pressure early and never faltered," Faxon told reporters. "He did everything he had to do."

For much of the round, Mickelson out-drove the world number one but Woods hit better iron shots and buried his putts. Only South Africa's Tim Clark, who shot a five-under 67, bettered Woods's score in the final round.

"He (Mickelson) flew it by me a couple of times today but I hit more fairways when I needed to, and that's where I probably won the tournament. I drove it really well," Woods said.

"I just tried to go out there and just be consistent and keep the ball in play and put the ball on the greens and don't put myself in danger of making bogeys."

Mickelson missed birdie putts on the first two holes and, after out-driving Woods on the par-five sixth, he could only manage a par while the leader made a birdie.

"Throughout the round I try to be patient and I need some breaks to go my way," Mickelson said.

"He continues to shoot three or four-under on a difficult day. It's hard to make up ground."

Woods is now committed to playing the next three weeks in a row, at the Nissan Open in Los Angeles, the World Match Play Championship and the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic. World number two Ernie Els is also in the field for the latter two events.

Swede Pettersson, appearing in only his sixth PGA Tour event, produced a closing 69 to finish runner-up.

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