World No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods of the United States has successfully defended his title at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg, Germany, but he needed sudden death to do it.
Woods parred the third playoff hole to beat Scotsman Colin Montgomerie after the two finished regulation play Monday tied at 20-under par, with totals of 268 after 72 holes. Woods trailed by one shot heading into the final round and fired a four-under-par 68, while Montgomerie carded a 69. Woods had a chance to win on the first playoff hole but his four-meter birdie putt lipped out. Both players parred the second playoff hole. Woods then won with a par on the third hole when Montgomerie drove into a bunker and hit his escape shot into the lake. It was his second straight victory at the event.
Justin Rose of England shot a 67 to finish third at 19-under-par, while his countryman Greg Owen was fourth at 17-under. It was Woods' third win in four years at the German event, and he picked up the winner's check for more than $410,000. He also won in 1999 and 2001.