Undisputed king of Sherwood

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers HOST WITH THE MOST- Tiger Woods earned his fourth Target World Challenge trophy in nine years on Sunday. Tiger Woods began to get a little hot under the collar after his six-shot lead had been whittled down to two strokes during Sunday's final round of the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

When asked if the other competitors had seen him sweat as his seemingly insurmountable cushion began to evaporate, an often stoic Woods was frank- and funny.

"Yeah, I was wearing a sweater vest," said Woods, who rebounded after Sunday's slow start to win the Target World Challenge for the fourth time in nine years with a tournament-record-tying score of 22-under-par.

Davis Love III shot 22-under to win the event in 2000.

"I wasn't swinging very good today; I was struggling a little bit," said Woods following Sunday's round of 68. "I was playing very conservative, and obviously I didn't quite feel right with my swing. But, I felt real good with the putter. . . . I felt like I could make anything."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers YARD WORK- Tiger Woods drives a shot toward the 18th green at Sherwood Country Club Sunday. Woods posted a four-day score of 22-under-par to tie the Target World Challenge record. Every golfer should have the opportunity to struggle as much as Woods did.

Following a 10week competitive layoff, Woods showed as much rust as a Teflon tool set at Sherwood. He opened with a 69 Thursday and followed that performance with a tournamentrecord 62 Friday afternoon. On Saturday, Woods posted a 67.

Colin Montgomerie, who finished tied for eighth place with Vijay Singh at 6-under-par, said taking time off never seems to faze Woods.

"Doesn't help us, does it?" said Montgomerie, in reference to the two-and-a-half-month layoff. "If he took a bloody year off, it would help. Never mind 10 weeks."

Zach Johnson finished in second place with a four-day total of 15-under-par. Johnson took home $840,000 for his effort.

"A lot of positives this week," Johnson said, "and certainly as I look to a couple times over the last two or three days, I think it's given me a little bit of confidence with what I'm doing, and it's certainly going to help me going into '08."

Jim Furyk, who was partnered with Woods on Sunday and narrowed Woods' lead to two strokes after the ninth hole, finished third at 13-under-par. Furyk was paid $570,000.

As he always does, Woods donated his $1.35-million winner's purse to the Tiger Woods Foundation. In nine years as tournament host, Woods has earned $6,947,500. He's given every penny to the foundation.

"The foundation has been just a huge winner this week," Woods said.

Woods, who finished the season with one major title- the 13th of his career at the PGA Championship- and was named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year for the ninth time, said 2007 was a great campaign, both personally and professionally.

Woods' wife gave birth to the couple's first child, Sam Alexis, six months ago. Sam Alexis was on hand to meet a smiling Woods as he finished up at the 18th green Sunday.

"This year, on the golf course, it's been a great year," Woods said. "Off the golf course it's been the greatest year I've ever had. As I've said before, it's been a polar 180 of last year."

Odds and ends It was a record-shattering week at the Target World Challenge.

With near-perfect weather and a strong field of 16 of the world's top players, per day attendance records were set on Wednesday (6,839 fans at the proam), Thursday (11,953), Friday (12,974), Saturday (14,836) and Sunday (18,633).

Sunday's crowd of 18,633 was the largest in Target World Challenge history.

Rory Sabbatini, who was set to enter Sunday's final round in last place, cleaned out his locker, withdrew from the tournament and flew to Hawaii late Saturday, Woods said.

Sabbatini, the man who made several comments about Woods being more beatable than ever this year, reportedly was suffering from shin splits, but the move was frowned upon by most golfers in attendance, including Fred Couples.

Couples told the Associated Press that Sabbatini should give his last-place check of $170,000 back to the foundation, adding, "He's messing with the wrong man," in reference to Woods.

"I think it's poor taste, poor judgment," Couples said. "Tiger deserves a little better than that."

Finally, next season looks pretty good for Woods, too.

In the previous years Woods won the Target World Challenge, he's come back the following season to win at least one major championship on two occasions.