LOS ANGELES, Feb 23: After seeing a seven-stroke lead disappear, Mike Weir made a crucial chip shot on the 18th hole and then tapped in for par to defend his Nissan Open title by one shot over Shigeki Maruyama on Sunday.
Canada's Weir, the reigning Masters champion, shot an even-par 71 in rainy conditions to finish on 17-under 267 at the Riviera Country Club, while Japan's Maruyama fell just short after posting a battling 67.
Australia's Mercedes Championships winner Stuart Appleby shot a five-under-par 66 to finish alone in third on 14-under-par, just ahead of two of the tour's longest hitters.
John Daly, last week's surprise Buick Invitational champion, made a birdie on the 18th to finish on 13-under-par, while Hank Kuehne missed a birdie putt on the same hole to end the tournament a further stroke adrift.
Kirk Triplett, the 2002 Nissan champion, fired a three-under 68 to vault up to sixth place on 11-under-par. World number one Tiger Woods, Jay Williamson and J.J. Henry finished in a tie for seventh at 10-under-par.
Woods recovered from his poor third round 72 to shoot a seven-under-par 64 and move 37 places up the leaderboard.
Final round scores:
267 Mike Weir (Canada) 66 64 66 71
268 Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 64 66 71 67
270 Stuart Appleby (Australia) 70 64 70 66
271 John Daly 68 64 72 67
272 Hank Kuehne 65 72 68 67
273 Kirk Triplett 66 67 72 68
274 Jay Williamson 69 69 72 64, Tiger Woods 72 66 72 64, J.J. Henry 71 69 65 69
275 Bob Tway 68 67 71 69, Tim Clark (South Africa) 72 69 64 70, Briny Baird 69 62 73 71, Loren Roberts 70 65 69 71, Jeff Maggert 67 66 69 73
