David Howell finally felt comfortable while walking the 18th fairway — he no longer had to worry about Tiger Woods.

The Englishman won the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China, yesterday by three strokes. Woods needed to make up three shots in the final three holes, but his comeback ended when his tee shot went into the water on the 16th hole.

Howell closed with a 4-under-par 68 that left him at 20-under 268. Woods had a 70 for 271, a runner-up for the second straight week.

England's Nick Dougherty eagled the par-5 18th for a 69 to tie for third with Australia's Nick O'Hern (73) at 274. Vijay Singh (69) and Thomas Bjorn (70) finished at 275.

The $5 million event is the richest in Asia, and Howell earned a first prize of $833,300.

Woods ended up bogeying the 288-yard 16th. He took a drop and had a chance to save par with a 5-foot putt but missed.

"I had to go for it and try to go for a birdie or, best part, eagle," Woods said. "Then he puts the ball on the green on 17 and it was over."

KIM WINS BY ONE SHOT

U.S. Solheim Cup star Christina Kim won her second career title, closing with a 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Australia's Rachel Hetherington in the Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions at Mobile, Ala.

Kim two-putted from 80 feet on the final hole, tapping in for par after Hetherington missed a 20-foot birdie attempt.

Kim finished with a 15-under 273 total on the Magnolia Grove Golf Club's Crossings Course and earned $138,000. She also won the 2004 Longs Drugs Challenge.

Hetherington shot a 68 en route to the eighth runner-up finish of her career. She won the last of her eight LPGA Tour titles in 2003.

Sweden's Liselotte Neumann, the 1996 winner, closed with a 71 to finish third at 12 under. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster (69) followed at 11 under.

PERRY, HUSTON TRIUMPH

Kenny Perry and John Huston won the Franklin Templeton Shootout, combining for a 13-under 59 in the scramble format for a one-stroke victory over Fred Couples and Adam Scott at Naples, Fla.

Perry and Huston, who each earned $315,000, had a 30-under 186 total on the Tiburon Golf Club course. They opened the event with a 64 in modified alternate shot and had a 63 on Saturday in the best-ball round.

Couples and Scott finished with a 62.

Mark O'Meara and Nick Price (60) were third at 27 under. Tournament host Greg Norman, playing a month after minor knee surgery, and Steve Elkington shot a 17-under 55 to finish fourth at 26 under. They birdied every hole but two and eagled No. 17.