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Tiger Woods stayed ice-cool throughout the final round to cruise to his 12th major title with a five-shot victory in the PGA Championship on Sunday.
Tied for the overnight lead with playing partner Luke Donald, the American world number one fired a four-under-par 68 in low-scoring conditions to lift the Wanamaker Trophy for the third time.
Woods, who also won the year's final major in 1999 and 2000, rattled up five birdies and a solitary bogey at the par-three 17th before finishing at 18-under-par 270 in bright sunshine at Medinah Country Club.
After sinking his final putt he gave a double fist pump to celebrate moving past fellow American Walter Hagen into outright second place in the all-time major standings with only Jack Nicklaus, on 18, ahead of him.
His 72-hole aggregate matched the lowest below par in the tournament's history, tying the 18-under total of 270 set jointly by Woods and fellow American Bob May at Valhalla in 2000.
"This is really sweet, it was a special day out there," a smiling Woods told reporters after delivering an inspired display with his putter. "I just had one of those magical days on the greens.
"I just felt like if I got the ball anywhere on the green, I could make it. It's not often you have days like that, and I happened to have one in the final round of a major championship.
MAKING BOMBS
"I made some bombs early in the front nine to stay ahead, knew I had to continue making birdies and I was able to do it," added Woods, who needed only 27 putts on the day.
Asked how he felt with only Nicklaus ahead of him in the all-time major standings, he replied: "It took Jack over 20 years to get his, so it's going to take a career.
"I've just to keep plugging along and keep trying to win these things."
By securing his third PGA Championship, Woods drew level with Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead. Only Nicklaus and Hagen, with five victories apiece, have fared better.
Briton Donald, bidding to become the PGA Championship's first European-born winner in 76 years, had to settle for a share of third place at 12 under after a frustrating day and a closing 74.
"I felt I played nicely today but got zero out of my game," the 28-year-old
"I just needed a few breaks, a few putts to go in. But it was a good learning experience considering this was my first real time in contention playing the last group (in a major) on Sunday. Even though I shot 74, I played a lot better."
Level with Donald were Australia's Adam Scott, who fired a seven-birdie 67, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, after a 70.
American Shaun Micheel, winner of the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, secured second place at 13 under, despite bogeying the last for a 69.
DROPPING SHOTS
Canada's Mike Weir closed to within three strokes of Woods with a birdie at the 10th before dropping four shots over the closing holes on his way to a 75 and sixth place.
Woods, who won last month's British Open at Hoylake, has a perfect record of 12 victories after leading or sharing the lead going into the final round of a major championship.
Any speculation the game's leading player might be reeled in on the final day at Medinah effectively ended when he immediately broke clear by rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four first.
He picked up his second shot after reaching the green in two at the 537-yard fifth, coolly sank a 40-footer at the par-four sixth and holed another 40-footer to birdie the par-three eighth.
After reaching the turn four strokes ahead of the chasing pack at 18 under, Woods picked up his fifth shot of the day at the par-four 11th after hitting a brilliant eight-iron approach shot from the right rough to within eight feet of the flag.
Oozing confidence on another day of low-scoring, he dropped his only stroke of the round after finding the back left greenside bunker at the 197-yard 17th.
After missing a downhill eight-footer to save par, he split the fairway at the last, safely reached the green with his second shot and savoured warm-hearted applause from the packed galleries before two-putting for a 68.
