Campbell claims Tour Championship
HOUSTON -- Chad Campbell became the first player ever to make the Tour Championship his first PGA Tour victory, while Vijay Singh finished the year as top money winner, ending Tiger Woods' four-hold hold on the title.
Campbell, a 29-year-old Texan who joined the Tour in 2002, finished on 16-under-par 268 after a final-round 68, beating Charles Howell III by three shots.
"It was what I was looking for all year," said Campbell, who was a runner-up three times this year, including at the PGA Championship.
South Africa's Retief Goosen, the winner of last week's Chrysler Championship, placed third on 272, while Chris Riley was fourth another shot back.
Singh tied for fifth with Davis Love III on 276 to comfortably defend his lead on the money list.
"There's no holding me back if I want something," Singh said.
The money title is the first of his career for the 40-year-old Fijian. Woods struggled to a three-over 74 and placed 26th in the 31-player field.
Woods won the points-based PGA of America Player of the Year award and the Vardon Trophy for having the lowest scoring average. He has won both awards five years in a row.
Woods also broke one of the oldest records in golf by making the cut for the 114th consecutive tournament. Byron Nelson finished in the money 113 times in a row in the 1940s.
Woods needed a victory for a record fifth straight money title. But his putter failed him throughout the week at Champions Golf Club and he closed with a 74 to finish 26th in the 31-man field of top money-winners.
It was his worst finish ever in the Tour Championship, and his score of 1-over 285 was the first time since The Players Championship in 1999 that he finished a non-major over par.
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