Leave it to the best player of his generation to restore a semblance of order to the best championship field in golf. Taking a piece of the 54-hole lead and turning it into victory? No surprise, but Tiger Woods was up to the task at THE PLAYERS Championship 2013.

Since this showcase had moved to a May date in 2007, a curious affliction had the plagued 54-hole leader. None had won, each had closed 74 or higher.

That Woods was immune from such a fall was hardly a shock; he’s arguably the greatest front-runner in golf history. What pleased Woods most of all about his closing round at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was the quality of his play. “I hit it so good today,” said Woods, who broke from a tie with Sergio Garcia and David Lingmerth with four birdies in the first 12 holes.

The quick hook off the 14th tee that found water? “It was the only bad swing I had all day,” said Woods, who made birdie at the par-5 16th to pull back into a tie with Garcia.

If fans braced for a Woods-Garcia playoff, they were let down when the Spaniard hit two balls in the water at 17 and one more at 18. At 13-under 275, Woods settled in for a two-stroke win over Lingmerth, Jeff Maggert and Kevin Streelman.

It was Woods’ 78th career win, but more notable was this: He became just the sixth player with at least two wins in THE PLAYERS.Tiger Woods Recap: THE PLAYERS Championship 2013