Tiger Woods Finally Takes Top Honors at AT&T National

Well with all due respect, it's about time Tiger Woods finally won the tournament he has hosted for the last three years!  All kidding aside, I am sure that this win comes both as a pleasant reward, and a welcome relief as he finally was able to capture top honors at a tournament he's hosted for years, but just hasn't been able to win it.  That's right, the tournament is over, another welcome relief that weather didn't delay yet another tournament and push back the finish longer than anyone wanted, and Tiger topped Hunter Mahan by a single stroke and Anthony Kim by three.

Kim & Woods Showdown Fizzles

When the day started today, both Tiger Woods and Anthony Kim were tied at -10 and the showdown that every golf fan just about everywhere has wanted to see finally looked like it was going to take place.  When Kim jumped out to an early lead and landed the first blows to go -11, Tiger didn't catch up for quite a few holes.  Once he did catch up, however, it wasn't Kim, but Hunter Mahan that he really had to worry about for the duration of the round.  Worry about, he did, but beat, he also took care of.

Mahan Ties Course Record

Just how big Mahan's surge was is still impressive, which makes the fact that Tiger held him off even more so.  Hunter Mahan ended up shooting a final round 62, which as you probably remember, just so happens to be the course record that was just set by Anthony Kim on Thursday.  Wow, to say the least.  Nevertheless, Tiger scrambled when he needed to scramble and even sunk a 20 foot birdie putt on 16 to safely secure the lead.  When all was said and done and the dust had settled it just took two very routine pars to seal the deal.  Game, set, match to Tiger.

Will Momentum Carry Over

The only question that remains is whether or not this momentum will carry over into Turnberry coming up in two weeks.  I guess we'll see, but knowing Tiger, I wouldn't put it past him.

(Image via Halleran/Getty Images)