ATLANTA -- Tiger Woods is the only one who could make it happen. Record books and bank accounts would stroll arm in arm down golf's lush green fairways, where victories and their financial rewards pile up in perfect harmony.
They came close enough Sunday. Woods converted East Lake Country Club into his private banking branch, and the setting where he completed a rare and historic double.
Not only did Woods pound the place with a four-under-par 66 to win the $7-million Tour Championship in an eight-shot runaway over Mark Calcavecchia and Zach Johnson, but he also won the first FedEx Cup and the $10-million bonus that goes along with it.
That bonus isn't paid out in cash, but it's deposited into a deferred retirement account that Woods can reach into when he's 45. After what Woods accomplished during the week at East Lake, sentiment is probably growing among his peers that such a day come sooner rather than later.
His payday Sunday: $11.26 million.
"You don't look at the prize money, you play and you play to win, period," Woods said. "That's how my dad raised me. You go out there and win. If you win, everything will take care of itself. You take great pride on what you do on the golf course."
Woods had rounds of 64-63-64-66 for a 23-under total of 257 that was the lowest of his career. It also matched the third-lowest in PGA Tour history.
It has been an exceedingly hot stretch for Woods, even by his lofty standards.
In his last five tournaments, beginning at the Bridgestone, Woods won four of them, tied for second in the other, shot a total of 75 under and earned $6.65 million. He has made a career-high $10.86 million this year and $76.5 million in 11 full years on the PGA Tour.
His seventh victory in 2007 is his 61st on the PGA Tour. He needs one more to tie Arnold Palmer for fourth place all-time.
"He's the king," Woods said. "To even be in the same breath as Arnold Palmer you know you've done something special."
Woods has played 52 tournaments in the last three years and won 21 of them. He won seven of 16 this year and eight of 15 last year.
This one wasn't close for very long. Woods started with a three-shot lead over Calcavecchia and dropped a shot when he missed the green at the second and made a bogey.
But after Woods saved par by getting a nine-footer to drop into the hole at the third, which he called the key to his round, he started saying goodbye to everyone else.
