Woods moved into a share of the lead early in the final round

FINAL LEADERBOARD
(US unless stated):
-15 T Woods
-13 C Howell III
-12 B Snedeker
-11 B Watson, M Calcavecchia, A Buckle (Aus)
-10 B Bryant, J Quinney
Selected others:
-9 I Poulter (Eng)
-1 P Mickelson, J Rose (Eng)

Tiger Woods overturned a two-stroke deficit in the final round at the Buick Invitational in San Diego to win his seventh consecutive PGA Tour title.

It is the second longest winning streak in PGA history behind Byron Nelson, who holds the record with 11 straight wins.

A round of 68 fired Woods to 15 under and a two-shot victory over Charles Howell III, with overnight leader Brandt Snedeker a further shot behind.

England's Ian Poulter finished ninth and Justin Rose joint 51st.

Woods had a solid outward nine holes with three birdies and an eagle at the ninth to put him into contention.

Winning breeds winning and the more you win, the more you understand how to do it Tiger Woods

He did drop a shot at the 7th, but further birdies at the 13th and 17th gave him a 15 under total and sealed his third successive win at the event.

Woods had been seven strokes adrift at halfway, but a bogey-free third round of 69 brought him into sight of the leaders.

Australia's Andrew Buckle, joint leader overnight with Snedeker and twice a winner of the world junior title on the same course, was going well until a double bogey at the 12th after he missed the fairway.

Further bogeys at the 15th and 16th and 17th ended his challenge.

Howell's challenge started badly with a bogey at his opening hole and although he managed six birdies in his round, it was not enough.

He had a chance at the last when he reached the 18th green in two, but he missed a long eagle putt and three-putted for par.

"It's pretty elite company to be mentioned in the breath of Mr Nelson," Woods said.

"There's only one person that's ahead of you and he's one of the greatest legends in the history of the game.

"Winning breeds winning and the more you win, the more you understand how to do it, and you do it different ways.

"I've done it with great ball-striking, I've done it with lousy ball-striking. I've done it with great putting and so-so putting and sometimes I've done it with my short game."

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on Woods's achievement

Woods has not finished worse than second since the Western Open last July, also posting runner-up spots at the HSBC Champions tournament in China and the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan last November.

He did, however, lose in the first round of the World Match Play, an event not sanctioned by the PGA Tour, to fellow American Shaun Micheel.