PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Rory McIlroy won the Honda Classic with a performance worthy of the new No. 1 player in golf.

Right when it looked as though McIlroy had no serious challenge Sunday, Tiger Woods put some color into that red shirt with a birdie-eagle finish to shoot 62 and get within one shot of the lead.

McIlroy answered with a birdie, and then made three clutch par saves during a daunting stretch at PGA National. He closed with a 1-under 69 for the victory he needed to move to No. 1 in the world.

He is the 16th player to be atop the world ranking, and at age 22, the second-youngest No. 1 player behind Woods.

Woods had his lowest final round ever and finished two behind, along with Tom Gillis (69).