BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) ― Congressional reopened its gates Sunday to thousands of spectators who got what they expected in the AT&T National ― another win by Tiger Woods.

Only this win didn’t follow a typical script.

Caught in a tense duel with Bo Van Pelt on another sweltering day, it looked as though Woods blinked first until Van Pelt matched him with mistakes of his own. Woods closed with a 2-under 69 and won by two shots when Van Pelt finished with his third straight bogey and had to settle for a 71.

Woods won for the third time this year, the most of anyone on the PGA Tour, and it was the 74th win of his career. That moved him past Jack Nicklaus into second place on the tour list, eight short of the record set by Sam Snead.

Woods, who finished at 8-under 276, moved to the top of the PGA Tour money list and the FedEx Cup standings for the first time since September 2009.

He effectively clinched the win with a 9-iron down the hill toward the peninsula green on the 18th, a shot so pure that Woods started walking and twirled the club moments after he made contact.

And so ended a wild week in Washington ― record heat Friday, followed by a wind storm that topped dozens of trees at Congressional and forced the tournament to keep spectators out Saturday. They were back in force for the final round, and they were treated to some pretty good theater.

“What an incredible week,” said Woods, the host of the AT&T National and a winner for the second straight time it has come to Congressional. “Everybody, thank you for being patient with us. Yesterday was a silent day. I think everyone saved up for today. What an atmosphere to play in front of.”

There wasn’t much to cheer in the final hour except for the 15th hole, when Woods holed a 20-foot birdie putt that crawled into the front of the cup, and Van Pelt matched that birdie with a 10-footer as the pressure was building.

Van Pelt had him on the ropes on the par-5 16th by ripping a 345-yard tee shot and having only a 6-iron into the green. Woods hit a spectator in the left rough with his tee shot, laid up, and then attacked a back flag only to see the ball tumble over the green and down an 8-foot slope.

Senior Players

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Flanked by major champions and pursued by big names, Joe Daley stuck to his game.

Twenty years after quitting his job as a credit salesman to turn pro, Daley wasn’t going to back down.

Not with his first victory on the PGA or Champions tours within reach. Not even with Fred Couples, Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Lehman among those looming.

Daley won the Senior Players Championship on Sunday for his first Champions Tour title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a 14-under 266 total and a two-stroke victory over Lehman at Fox Chapel.

Daley outdueled final-round playing partners Calcavecchia ― the winner the previous week in the Montreal Championships ― and Couples, the defending champion. Daley entered the day tied with Calcavecchia and a shot ahead of Couples and Lehman, who won the previous major last month.

“I was my competition ― not them,” Daley said. “I’m my own competition. Have been for years.”

Irish Open

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) ― Jamie Donaldson of Wales won his first European Tour title by shooting a 6-under 66 to clinch a four-stroke victory at the Irish Open on Sunday.

Beginning the fourth round with a one-shot lead, Donaldson birdied five of his last seven holes to shoot a fourth straight round in the 60s to total 18-under 270 and end an 11-year trophy drought that covered 255 tournaments.

“It feels a bit surreal, to be honest,” said Donaldson, who topped a strong field that included home favorites Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington.