West Virginia (AFP/REUTERS) - Tiger Woods fired his first bogey free round since 2013 on Sunday, closing with a three-under par 67 in the final round of The Greenbrier Classic.
The former world number one snapped a string of 55 straight rounds with a bogey or worse - a stretch dating back to his last bogey free round at The Barclays in August 2013.
"That is the best I have hit in a very long time," said Woods, who has plunged to 220th in the world. "I had full control over all of my clubs.
He added: "I hit it great. I had shapes both ways right and left drive. I had it all on call today.
The 39-year-old American will next tee it up in the British Open at St. Andrews from July 16-19.
On Sunday, he rolled in three birdies and had 15 pars to finish the tournament at seven-under 273, which was won by New Zealand's Danny Lee who parred the second extra hole to win a four-way playoff
Lee, 24, was born in South Korea but is a citizen of New Zealand.
He carded a closing 67 to finish regulation locked with David Hearn (67), Kevin Kisner (64) and Robert Streb (65) at 13-under 267.
It was the 2008 U.S. amateur champion's first victory on the PGA Tour.
Woods, who entered the final round seven shots back of the leaders, said if his putting was better he would have been in contention for a title.
"If I had just made a couple of putts this week it could have been completely different.
Woods said the turning point in his game wasn't this week but at The Memorial last month where he closed with rounds of 85 and 74 on the weekend after shooting 70-73 in the first two rounds.
Woods followed that up by missing the cut at the US Open with rounds of 80 and 76. But the 14-time major champion said the way he played this week proves he is making progress with the swing changes he is trying to implement.
"I made a big giant step at The Memorial," he said. "Even though I shot those numbers the pattern was set. I just had to refine it. This week I definitely did that.
"It is a completely different motion. It is not a short term fix. People are looking for the one quick fix and very next day go out and play great golf. It doesn't work that way."
Woods said he has tried to ignore what his critics say, especially on social media.
"I don't go on line. I stay away from that," Woods said. "Social media has certainly changed the world the way we know it. I understand everyone has an opinion. It has changed the landscape for all athletes.
"I remember talking to (Wayne) Gretzky one time. He grew up in an era when he first played hockey and was winning the Cups, there was no 24 hour news cycle. And now here we are with instant news with the click of a button.
"That has changed the landscape again."
