HEIDELBERG, Germany, May 20 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods wore down Colin Montgomerie on Monday to successfully defend his title at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg, Germany.
Woods won on the third playoff hole when a visibly weary Montgomerie, who has been battling back problems, found water with his second shot out of the bunker.
Montgomerie settled for a double-bogey on the hole and Woods sank a short putt for par to give him his third win in the tournament in four tries.
Woods, the top-ranked player in the world, entered the final day of the tournament one shot behind Montgomerie before firing a four-under-par 68 to finish regulation play at 20-under 268.
The 38-year-old Montgomerie, just past his prime, was seeking his 27th career title on the European PGA Tour. He was able to keep up with the 26-year-old Woods through 74 holes at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club, but finally faltered when the two golfers played the 18th hole for the fourth time.
"In the circumstances I am very proud to have gone out there and shot 69 today," Montgomerie said. "This morning I was about to pull out. I couldn't play. I was very close when I was on the range. In the playoff my back was getting way too sore and that's why I was hooking it."
Both players missed the green on the last regulation hole and Woods used an eight-foot putt to force the playoff. He had a chance to win on the first playoff hole but his 15-foot birdie putt lipped out.
"I told myself to remember that your game doesn't change in a playoff," Woods said. "You just have to take it one shot at a time, go out there and hit it."
Woods, who earned $410,222 for the victory, fell behind by three strokes early in the round, but drew even with a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 10. Montgomerie moved ahead with a birdie on 15 before Woods drew even.
The appearance of the world's best player resulted in large crowds at St. Leon-Rot. A total of 78,000 attended over four days, 8,000 more than the previous best in 1999.
Montgomerie took home $273,480.
Justin Rose shot a 66 to take third place at 267, and fellow Englishman Greg Owen was one shot back after firing a 68.
Ricardo Gonzalez of Agrentina shot a 73 and took fifth place at 273. Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, Ian Woosnam of Wales and Marten Olander of Sweden tied for sixth at 274.
