Graeme McDowell beats Tiger Woods in playoff to win Chevron World Challenge

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Graeme McDowell won the Chevron World Challenge with a birdie during the first hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday after Tiger Woods blew a four-shot lead -- and his best opportunity to win his first golf tournament this year.

Both players birdied the final hole of regulation to force the playoff, which started on the par-four 18th hole at the Sherwood Country Club course in Thousand Oaks, Calif. McDowell birdied the hole by sinking a putt of about 20 feet while Woods missed his birdie putt of roughly the same distance.

Despite losing the tournament after leading the first three rounds, Woods said ‘it was a great week even though I didn’t win. I played really well for most of the week.’

It was the first time in Woods’ career that he didn’t win after leading by at least three shots going into the final round.

Woods is a four-time winner of the 18-player tournament, which benefits his charity. But the world’s former No. 1-ranked golfer has not won since his delayed return to competitive golf in April following revelations of his extramarital affairs that made worldwide headlines.

Englishman Paul Casey finished third in the tournament at 12 under par.

--Jim Peltz