Woods Completes Comeback in Dramatic Fashion

HEIDELBERG, Germany (Reuters) -- A spectacular eagle fired Tiger Woods to a second European Tournament Players Championship success in three years on Sunday when a closing 6-under-par 66 earned him a four-shot victory on 22-under-par 266.

Woods holed out from 175 yards with a 7-iron from the fairway on the 13th, his second eagle of the day and fifth of the tournament, to finally shake off a determined Michael Campbell.

The New Zealander, leader for two and a half rounds until a poor back nine spell in the third round, had to settle for second place with a 70.

After overnight leader Eduardo Romero faltered right from an opening bogey, Woods, who took over the lead with a mere 10-foot putt to eagle the first, and Campbell had a ding-dong battle, both taking and retaking top place, tying for the lead going to the 13th.

But then suddenly the contest was effectively ended as Woods' second shot sailed straight into the hole via the cup's rim, taking the American two ahead.

A third birdie on the back nine soon followed and Woods was home and dry, earning his fifth European Tour title and 32nd victory worldwide since turning professional in 1996.

This one earned him $400,000 to go with the $2 million he reportedly was paid by sponsors of the event for his services and further entrenched Woods on top of the world rankings.

It could have been a worrying afternoon for Woods after breaking the shaft of his driver the night before in practice, and then a new shaft also got damaged.

But the player with whom he shares coach Butch Harmon, young Australian Adam Scott, came to the rescue and lent him a spare driver of similar specification.

His stunning drive at the first to set up the eagle showed Woods was not to be fazed by losing his own trusty weapon.

Campbell quickly surged past, though, with three birdies in the first four holes, but after the New Zealander double-bogeyed the seventh, it was nip and tuck until the 13th.

Overall, the victory supplied yet another phenomenal display of Woods' recovery prowess and how his presence on leaderboard affects those around him.

On Saturday at around midday, he trailed Campbell by 10 strokes as the weather-delayed second round reached completion.

As usual, things happened almost godlike to Woods. He had chipped in for one of his eagles on Friday, slam-dunked a 40-footer for another on Saturday, a putt that would have gone some 8 feet past, by his own admission.

And on Sunday something persuaded him at the last second to change to a 7-iron from a 6-iron to produce the magical shot that set him up for his latest title.

"I hit a nice, high draw and it was looking pretty good," said Woods. "All of a sudden it disappeared, then the crowd went nuts, so I guessed it had gone in.

"I needed it. Michael played really solid and I knew I was going to have to win it because he wasn't going to give it me."

The combination of mistakes by Campbell in the middle of his Third-round back nine after producing opening rounds of 62 and 65, and Woods' blazing start taking just 30 shots going out for his third-round 63, left him only a stroke adrift of Romero's final-round lead.

But when his driver snapped on Saturday on the range, Woods was worried. "I was a little concerned," he said, "because that driver's been awfully good to me.

"Funnily enough it was the second time it had snapped on me, though, and the last time it did it I won as well -- at Pebble Beach.

"Adam Scott's spare had exactly the same spec as mine, though, the only difference being that it was a newer version, and I was able to trust it.

"Adam owed me one. He won in South Africa with a set of irons I gave him."

Campbell recognized he had lost to someone and something special, saying, "I was doing fine then suddenly he turned things around.

"That's the sign of a good player. He finds two extra gears. I still had a good chance with six holes to go. It was a great shot by a great player."

Diminutive Dane Soren Kjeldsen's 65, the best of the day, and a 69 by Australian Peter O'Malley, who carded a 63 in the third round, earned them a tie for third place on 271, five behind Woods.

Third-round leader Romero, bitten by his own dog early in the year and only just battling back from the injury, was this time bitten by a Tiger as the 46-year-old Argentine slumped to a 77 to finish 10 strokes behind Woods.

"I played badly," said Romero. "My left foot is a bit sore and I was coming off my shots. Tiger's shot at the 13th was unbelievable. That's the sign of a true champion."

Woods may now even consider playing the extra tournament he needs to qualify for Europe's order of merit this year.