 Woods was playing his first event since marrying in early October |
A second-place finish in his first tournament since getting married was good enough to take Tiger Woods from third to second in the world rankings. The move will provide some consolation to the 28-year-old American after his disappointing final day at the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Sunday.
The former world number one saw a four-shot overnight lead become a four-shot deficit to winner Retief Goosen.
Vijay Singh remains world number one, while Ernie Els slips a place to third.
Woods' failure to convert a third-round lead into victory was only his third in 33 chances on the PGA Tour.
The last time Woods failed to convert a 54-hole lead came at the Tour Championship in 2000, when Phil Mickelson came from behind for victory.
Goosen's triumph at East Lake lifted him to fourth, one place behind his South African compatriot Els and one place ahead of Mickelson. Davis Love III was the week's big loser as his withdrawal on Thursday with a neck injury and poor recent form saw him slide two places from sixth to eighth.
The American's decision to pull out was more costly than it would have been on most weeks as the Tour Championship, the PGA Tour's season finale, carries more rankings points than most events thanks to its 30-strong elite field.
The beneficiaries of Love's demotion were Canada's Mike Weir and Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who both moved up a place into sixth and seventh respectively.
Spain's Sergio Garcia and American Stewart Cink complete the top 10.
MMIX
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