Tiger Woods wipes his forehead as he waits to putt on the first green during the final round of the AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Sunday, July 1, 2012. AP/PATRICK SEMANSKY
BETHESDA, Md. – Tiger Woods won for the third time this year by outlasting Bo Van Pelt in a back-nine duel Sunday in the AT&T National.
Woods closed with a 2-under 69 and won for the 74th time on the PGA Tour, moving past Jack Nicklaus and into second place on the tour’s career list. He is eight wins away from catching Sam Snead.
Van Pelt had Woods on the ropes until a surprising turnaround on the par-5 16th, where both players made bogeys and remained tied. Van Pelt flew the 17th green and had to scramble for bogey, giving Woods a one-shot lead that he did not give back.
Woods moved to the top of the PGA Tour money list and the FedEx Cup standings for the first time since September 2009.