Retief Goosen held off Vijay Singh on Sunday to win the US$4.8 million Chrysler Championship and keep Tiger Woods alive in a bid for his fifth straight PGA Tour money title.
Goosen had a three-stroke lead over Singh trimmed to a shot after 12 holes at the trying Innisbrook course before pulling away for his third PGA Tour victory and first of the season.
The South African finished with a 1-under-par 70, giving him a 72-hole total of 12-under 272, three shots better than Singh and four ahead of Briny Baird -- his playing partners Sunday.
"I know I wasn't hitting the ball as well as I would like to, but I have a good feel for the course and that's what it all comes down to," said the 34-year-old Goosen.
Goosen collected his 18th title worldwide and fifth between the PGA and European tours since the start of the 2001 season.
His world ranking will improve from No. 10 as he attempts to get closer to his career-best ranking of No. 4.
"I feel like I'm definitely up there in the top six players in the world," he said.
"That is sort of my goal, to see if I can get back into a better position than I have been."
He won the 2001 US Open and the Order of Merit in Europe in 2001 and 2002.
With the US$864,000 top prize, Goosen moved into the top 10 on the money list with more than US$2.7 million.
He also clinched a berth in the 2004 season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii, a winners-only event.
Also in the hunt for Player of the Year honors, Singh has a good chance of taking care of business.
He has won twice and finished second twice in his last four starts and hasn't placed worse than sixth in his past seven appearances.
"I'm playing better than I have before," he said.
"It's easier to go out there and hit the wall. It feels good and I am enjoying playing the game of golf."
With only next week's season-ending Tour Championship remaining on the schedule, Singh leads Woods by more than US$750,000 atop the money list.
Davis Love is third, nearly US$1.5 million off the pace.
Singh wins the money title by finishing alone in third, second or first next week in Houston.
Woods needs to win the event and have Singh place no better than fourth to finish atop the money list for the sixth time in seven years.
Baird started alone in second on Sunday, two shots off Goosen's pace, but he posted a 72.
The US$326,400 check still allowed him to jump from 35th to 22nd on the money list, taking a berth in the Tour Championship away from Rocco Mediate.
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