McDowell denies Woods in playoff

Tiger Woods’ hopes of ending his title drought ended in a playoff as Graeme McDowell stormed back to win the Chevron World Challenge.

Woods, who had been on top in Thousand Oaks all weekend, began the day with a four-shot lead, but suffered his first bad round of the tournament, highlighted by a calamitous double-bogey on the 13th, to sign for a 73.

That gave McDowell his chance as he overcame two bogeys with five birdies, the last on the 18th, to force a playoff.

And he won that with another birdie putt on the 18th, leaving Woods without a title since he won the Australian Masters a year ago.

Paul Casey also went round in 69 today to hold on to third place, ahead of Rory McIlroy, who made four straight birdies en route to a round of 68 that gave him a share of fourth place with Hunter Mahan.

Stewart Cink had the best round of the day, making six birdies and one bogey to go round in 67 and move from a share of 10th to a share of sixth along with Ian Poulter.

Luke Donald dropped to eighth as he could only manage a round of 74, his afternoon marred by a double bogey on the par-five 16th.