Woods’ hat-trick makes it a dozen

Woods finished at 18-under-par 270 in bright sunshine at Medinah Country Club, moving past fellow American Walter Hagen into outright second place in the all-time Major standings with only Jack Nicklaus, on 18, ahead of him.

His 72-hole aggregate matched the lowest below par in the tournament’s history, tying the 18-under total of 270 set jointly by Woods and fellow American Bob May at Valhalla in 2000.

“This is really sweet, it was a special day out there,” a smiling Woods said after delivering an inspired display with his putter. “I just had one of those magical days on the greens.”

Briton Donald, bidding to become the PGA Championship’s first European-born winner in 76 years, had to settle for a share of third place at 12 under after a frustrating day and a closing 74.

Level with Donald were Australia’s Adam Scott, who fired a seven-birdie 67, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, after a 70.

American Shaun Micheel, winner of the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, secured second place at 13 under, despite bogeying the last for a 69.

Canada’s Mike Weir closed to within three strokes of Woods with a birdie at the 10th before dropping four shots over the closing holes on his way to a 75 and sixth place.

Woods, who won last month’s British Open at Hoylake, has a perfect record of 12 victories after leading or sharing the lead going into the final round of a Major championship.

Any speculation the game’s leading player might be reeled in on the final day at Medinah effectively ended when he immediately broke clear by rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four first.

He picked up his second shot after reaching the green in two at the 537-yard fifth, coolly sank a 40-footer at the par-four sixth and holed another 40-footer to birdie the par-three eighth.

After reaching the turn four strokes ahead of the chasing pack at 18 under, Woods picked up his fifth shot of the day at the par-four 11th after hitting a brilliant eight-iron approach shot from the right rough to within eight feet of the flag.

Oozing confidence on another day of low-scoring, he dropped his only stroke of the round after finding the back left greenside bunker at the 197-yard 17th.

After missing a downhill eight-footer to save par, he split the fairway at the last, safely reached the green with his second shot and savoured warm-hearted applause from the packed galleries before two-putting for a 68.

Chopra finishes 41st

MEDINAH: A topsy-turvy final round of one-over 73 saw Daniel Chopra finish tied 41st in the PGA Championships. Chopra opened the fourth round with a birdie on the first, but then double bogeyed the par-5 seventh. He turned in one-over par 37. He again managed a par on par-5 tenth, which most top stars birdied. Chopra did have birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, but bogeys on the tough 16th and 17th holes neutralised that and he ended with a 73 and in a tie for 41st place.