August 22, 2006	Tuesday	Rajab 26, 1427

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MEDINAH (Illinois), Aug 21: 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.

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.

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.

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.

Final round scores:

270 – Tiger Woods (US) 69, 68, 65, 68.

275 – Shaun Micheel (US) 69, 70, 67, 69.

276 – Adam Scott (Australia) 71, 69, 69, 67; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 69, 70, 67, 70; Luke Donald (Britain) 68, 68, 66, 74.

277 – Mike Weir (Canada) 72, 67, 65, 73.

278 – Steve Stricker (US) 72, 67, 70, 69; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 73, 67, 67, 71.

279 – Ryan Moore (US) 71, 72, 67, 69; Ian Poulter (Britain) 70, 70, 68, 71; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 69, 68, 68, 74.

280 – Sean O'Hair (US) 72, 70, 70, 68; Chris DiMarco (US) 71, 70, 67, 72.

281 – Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 68, 68, 73, 72; Tim Herron (US) 69, 67, 72, 73.

282 – Ernie Els (South Africa) 71, 70, 72, 69; David Toms (US) 71, 67, 71, 73; Woody Austin (US) 71, 69, 69, 73; Phil Mickelson (US) 69, 71, 68, 74.

283 – Jonathan Byrd (US) 69, 72, 74, 68; Robert Allenby (Australia) 68, 74, 71, 70; Fred Funk (US) 69, 69, 74, 71; Harrison Frazar (US) 69, 72, 69, 73.

284 – Steve Flesch (US) 72, 71, 69, 72; Tim Clark (South Africa) 70, 69, 75, 70; Chad Campbell (US) 71, 72, 75, 66; Stewart Cink (US) 68, 74, 73, 69; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 72, 71, 70, 71

285 – Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 71, 73, 69, 72; Heath Slocum (US) 73, 70, 72, 70; Dean Wilson (US) 74, 70, 74, 67; Lee Westwood (Britain) 69, 72, 71, 73; Jim Furyk (US) 70, 72, 69, 74.

286 – Davis Love III (US) 68, 69, 73, 76; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 73, 71, 70, 72; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70, 73, 68, 75.

287 – Richard Green (Australia) 73, 69, 73, 72; Graeme McDowell (Britain) 75, 68, 72, 72; Billy Mayfair (US) 69, 69, 73, 76; J.B. Holmes (US) 71, 70, 68, 78.

288 – Justin Rose (Britain) 73, 70, 70, 75; J.J. Henry (US) 68, 73, 73, 74; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 72, 67, 76, 73; Billy Andrade (US) 67, 69, 78, 74; Chris Riley (US) 66, 72, 73, 77.

289 – Lucas Glover (US) 66, 74, 77, 72; Olin Browne (US) 75, 66, 73, 75.

290 – Jerry Kelly (US) 70, 74, 74, 72.

291 – Ryan Palmer (US) 70, 73, 72, 76; Rich Beem (US) 75, 69, 72, 75; Joey Sindelar (US) 74, 70, 73, 74; Nathan Green (Australia) 71, 71, 74, 75; Corey Pavin (US) 72, 71, 72, 76; Kenny Perry (US) 72, 71, 71, 77.

292 – Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 72, 68, 75, 77; Stephen Ames (Canada) 74, 69, 74, 75; Stuart Appleby (Australia) 70, 73, 79, 70; Hideto Tanihara (Japan) 73, 71, 78, 70; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 70, 74, 75, 73.

293 – Ben Curtis (US) 72, 72, 73, 76; Steve Lowery (US) 70, 72, 76, 75.

295 – Charles Warren (US) 73, 70, 77, 75; Jeff Maggert (US) 75, 68, 78, 74; Jason Gore (US) 70, 73, 75, 77.

296 – Bob Tway (US) 72, 71, 75, 78; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 70, 73, 75, 78.

297 – David Howell (Britain) 71, 71, 73, 82.

300 – Don Yrene (US) 71, 72, 77, 80; Jay Haas (US) 75, 68, 74, 83.

301 – Jim Kane (US) 71, 71, 80, 79.—Reuters