Tiger Woods took his third title of the year at the US$6.4 million Wachovia Championship with 3-under-par 69 in North Carolina on Sunday.

Woods finished at 13-under 275 for his 57th career victory on the PGA Tour.

Steve Stricker (69) pulled his second shot into the creek at the brutal par-4 18th but salvaged a bogey to finish second at 277.

Phil Mickelson (70) snuck into a tie for third with South African Rory Sabbatini (74) at 279 when several other contenders made a mess of the difficult last hole.

Woods, 31, collected US$1.134 million to move to the top of the money list and the FedEx Cup points table.

"This week I didn't really have my best stuff, but it was good enough," he said. "But I made a lot of putts this week, some crucial par putts from six to eight feet, which you have to make."

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2007)