Tiger Woods ended a two-year title drought by winning the Chevron World Challenge and admitted: "It feels awesome."
The former world number one was trailing his fellow American Zach Johnson by a shot heading to the closing two holes of the tournament which he hosts in Thousand Oaks, California.
But Woods pulled out a two at the short 17th and then added a birdie three at the last to close out victory and deny his playing partner.
It gave him his first Stateside win since the BMW Championship in September 2009 and his first of any kind since the Australian Masters in November of the same year.
Woods made a 69 to finish 10 under par for the tournament, one ahead of Johnson who carded a 71.
Asked after clinching victory whether it felt like joy, relief or satisfaction, Woods said: "It feels awesome whatever it is."
England's Paul Casey, who began the week with a 79, finished third on five under after shooting 69.
Woods had conceded the overnight lead to Johnson after a third round of 73, but he only trailed by one shot and it remained tight between the pair throughout the closing 18 holes.
But when it mattered most Woods made back-to-back birdies while his playing partner managed just pars, securing the swing he needed to take the title and the 1.2million US dollars (£770,000) winner's cheque.
Woods now returns to the world's top 25, up from 52nd to 21st, and pointed to his decision to take time off to deal with knee and Achilles injuries in the summer as a vital step.
"I felt that in order for me to play the way I know I can play, I had to get fully fit. I had to get healthy and to where I was strong and explosive again so I could practice," Woods said.
He pointed out it was rare for him to be chasing a title on the final day of a tournament this season.
"I've been in contention twice this year, which is not very often," he said. "I had the lead at the Masters on the back nine there, and obviously had a chance there at the Aussie Open [where he finished third].
"So that's my third time with a chance to win it. I pulled it off this time."
Woods' last title came before the late-2009 sex scandal which cost him his marriage and prompted a spell out of golf.
The 35-year-old 14-time major winner was thrilled to make his birdie at the 17th, turning the final hole into a shoot-out between the front-runners.
"I hit two good putts," Woods said.
"(The putt on 17) gives me a chance to win it outright, because if I don't make that putt and come down to 18 it's in Zach's control. If he makes birdie, I can't win.
"So I just wanted to give myself a chance where a birdie could force a play-off, a birdie could still win, or at least have options, and that putt was huge."
Johnson said on Sky Sports: "I'm obviously disappointed.
"He birdies the last two holes and makes two great putts and you just tip your hat."
Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar both went round in 71 to share fourth place on four under, three clear of Jim Furyk, Martin Laird, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson who tied for sixth.
Scotland's Laird had been seven over par through his opening two rounds but finished with a 70, after yesterday's 66.
First-round leader KJ Choi went into reverse gear after his opening 66, and finished off with his worst round of the week, a 78 which left him 12th.
