Tiger Woods wins first of year at Bay Hill

Tiger Woods took advantage of two enormously lucky breaks to win the $3.5 million Bay Hill Invitational by one stroke on Sunday for his first title of 2001.

In a spectacular finish, Woods sank a curling 15-foot birdie putt at the final hole to edge Phil Mickelson by one stroke in a showdown of the world's top two players.

"It was ugly," said Woods, who missed half of the Bay Hill fairways in a wayward display of driving.

"I didn't play well. I didn't know where the ball was going but I made some wonderful saves and got some wonderful breaks coming down the stretch," Woods said.

"This is what you need to happen in order to win. I feel great."

Woods shot a final round 69 to finish at 15-under-par 273 and win Arnold Palmer's event for the second successive year.

Mickelson had the day's best round, a bogey-free 66, but it wasn't quite enough as he finished second on 274, with New Zealand's Grant Waite third at 278 after a 69.

LUCKY TWICE

Woods received his good fortune on the 16th and 18th holes.

At the par-five 16th, his drive came within five feet of going out-of-bounds, but he drew a good lie and was able to get to the green with a seven-iron en route to birdie.

Then, at the par-four 18th, he hit another pulled drive which looked in danger of hurtling out-of-bounds, until it hit a spectator in the neck.

A female spectator then picked up the ball, before dropping it back onto the ground, but under the rules Woods was required to take a free drop.

"I was very lucky," admitted Woods. "I heard I smoked somebody."

The world number one found another great lie and, with a good angle to the pin, took dead aim with a five-iron and fashioned a fine shot to 15 feet.

The winning putt broke sharply left-to-right, but he read it perfectly and rolled his ball home to end what for Woods had been considered a title drought -- six starts without a victory.

"I didn't play well but I hung in there," he said. "You can't always play well on Sunday and win. Sometimes you have to have luck on your side."

Woods, winner of three of last year's major titles, collected $630,000 for his 25th career victory on the PGA Tour, jumping to sixth on this year's money list.

MICKELSON DISAPPOINTED

Mickelson was extremely disappointed to come up short after his bold charge.

"I caught and passed him and he came back at the end and passed me," said Mickelson.

"Sometimes you need a lucky break to win. The second shot (on 18) was impressive and the putt was equally impressive. I thought he'd make it because he normally does when he needs to," Mickelson noted.

"Early in the week I threw away 10-to-15 shots and that's really where I lost the tournament, not today," he said.

"The first three days were very sporadic. I don't know how you expect to beat the best player in the world doing that, but I came within one."

Mickelson, playing two groups ahead of Woods, had his own share of drama at the last. He pushed his tee shot into thick rough and, with water guarding the green, hacked his second back to the fairway, 82 yards from the hole.

He then hit an exquisite pitch to one foot to save par. With Woods still to play the hole, it seemed he had at least done enough to get into a playoff.

But great ones somehow find a way of winning, even if it also takes a little help, in this case from the unfortunate spectator who took the brunt of his final drive.