TORONTO, 22 March 2005 — Kenny Perry held on to win his first title in two years at the Bay Hill Invitational on Sunday with a two-stroke victory over Britain’s Graeme McDowell and Vijay Singh, who found the water on the final hole to gift the American the title.

It was the second successive week Singh has finished runner-up though it ensured the Fijian leaves Orlando’s Bay Hill Resort with the No. 1 world ranking.

Trailing by three shots with four to play, Singh mounted a late charge with birdies on 15 and 16 then watched as Perry made bogey on the 17th to leave them level with one to play.

But with Perry nervously grinding his teeth, Singh hit his approach short, the ball plopping into the water for a double-bogey leaving his relieved opponent an easy putt for a final round two-under 70 and his eighth career victory with a winning total of 12-under 276.

“(I’m) stunned,” said Perry, who was without a win since three victories in 2003. “I was watching the ball in the air and it stunned me when it came up short.

“He was putting the heat on me all day. I couldn’t shake him.”

Singh had played flawless golf throughout the afternoon until his six on 18 and finished with a three-under 69.

It was another disappointing finish for the Fijian, who missed a three-foot putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with Padraig Harrington at the Honda Classic last week.

Even ending Woods brief reign for a second time and reclaiming the No. 1 ranking was of small consolation for Singh without the win.

“Big deal. I lost the golf tournament,” said Singh. “I just want to win the golf tournament.

“I really wasn’t worried about the ranking. It’s a shame that has happened but you’ve got to look forward.

“I’m playing well, I’m hitting ball well. So I’m looking forward to next week and hopefully I don’t screw up again.”

Woods had been in contention for his fifth title at Bay Hill, sitting just three shots off the lead after two rounds.

The eight-time major winner started Sunday by completing his delayed third round with two-over 74 and continued his slide down the leaderboard with four bogeys on the front nine of his final round.

He finished with three birdies on the back nine for an even par 72 but could not keep Singh from reclaiming the top ranking.

“It was a frustrating week,” said Woods. “I didn’t really have it, didn’t putt well, didn’t hit the ball all that great and consequently, I wasn’t in contention.

“(I’m) kind of surprised that I was struggling as much as I was this week. ...It (was) one of those weeks. It happens.

“I was playing well coming into this week. I hit the ball well in spurts. I just didn’t hit it well consistently, and just go back to the driving range and work it out a little bit.” World No. 3 Ernie Els, who arrived in Orlando with back-to-back titles at the Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters, slumped out of contention with a five-over 77 finishing 11 shots behind Perry at one-under 287.

McDowell shot the round of the tournament, a six-under 66, on Sunday to move from seventh to joint second, which secured a place in the top 50 of the world rankings and a spot in next week’s Player Championships.

Ochoa Unravels to Let Sorenstam in for Safeway International Win

In Superstition Mountain, Arizona, Lorena Ochoa, four strokes ahead with only three holes to play, still couldn’t hold off superstar Annika Sorenstam who downed the Mexican in a playoff to win the $1.4 million Safeway International on Sunday.

Sorenstam posted a two-under-par 70 to finish tied with Ochoa at 11-under 277 after 72 holes.

The world’s top-ranked player parred 18 in the playoff to win her second tournament in as many starts this season and the 58th of her career. Ochoa’s slide started with a double-bogey at the par-four 16th. At 17 she took bogey when her par putt lipped out, and headed to the par-five 18th with her lead cut to one shot.

Playing in the group in front of Ochoa, Sorenstam reached the 18th green in two and just missed an eagle putt to the right.

She tapped in for birdie and put the pressure on Ochoa.

Looking for her third LPGA Tour victory, Ochoa had a 12-foot birdie putt to win, but it broke just in front of the hole to the right, leaving her a tap-in par for a round of two-over 74 and a playoff with the steely-nerved Sorenstam. The players returned to the 18th tee, and the playoff was over just as soon as it started as Ochoa hit her tee shot into the water. Sorenstam found the fairway with her drive, was just off the green in two and chipped and two-putted to tie Louise Suggs for fourth on the LPGA all-time wins list.