Australia's Stuart Appleby held off a furious late charge by Vijay Singh with a closing two-under-par 71 to win the Mercedes Championships by a single stroke on Sunday.

World number one Tiger Woods, twice a winner of the event, also carded a 71 to finish tied for fourth, his cheque for $275,000 lifting his career earnings on the PGA Tour above $40 million.

Appleby, who led by six shots with seven holes remaining, ended the opening tournament of the 2004 PGA Tour on 22-under-par 270.

Singh faltered on the front nine before four birdies in the final five holes gave him a three-under-par 70 round as the Fijian registered his ninth top-six finish, dating back to last August's WGC-NEC Invitational.

Britain's Darren Clarke finished alone in third on 275, five shots off the pace at 17-under-par after also shooting a 70.

Woods and South Africa's Retief Goosen finished on 15-under-par in a share of fourth.

Defending champion Ernie Els could not replicate his form of last year, finishing tied for 21st at four-under-par, 27 shots off his record-breaking performance 12 months ago.

METHODICAL APPROACH

Appleby took a methodical approach to The Plantation Course in winning his fifth title on the Tour.

He made at least one birdie on 16 of the 18 holes over the four rounds and never got himself into truly difficult situations, recording only seven bogeys on the windswept Maui layout.

In the final round, Appleby took control early and made the turn at three-under, extending a two-shot third round lead over Singh to six.

Despite Singh's late flourish, Appleby was rarely threatened and only the final margin of victory, not the outcome, was ever likely to change on the final day.

"I didn't need to go out and make birdies," Appleby said of his play on the back nine.

"What I needed to do was position myself to have a reasonable chance of making birdies. I didn't have to go smashing anything in the hole."

Playing smart golf, Appleby waited for the field, more specifically Singh, to come after him.

The Fijian obliged, but left it too late.

The world number two began his charge on the 14th hole when he made a birdie to get to within four shots.

The calm Australian took very little notice but did feel a change in the air.

"There was definitely a momentum change, but I really felt like that it was up to Vijay to catch me," Appleby said.

"I wasn't going to let him have anything for free. He would have to earn it."

GOOD PLAY

The 40-year-old Singh could not catch Appleby, but the second place finish represents a continuation of the good play that took him to the top of the 2003 PGA Tour money list for the first time in his career.

The Fijian, who had relinquished the second-round lead to Appleby on Saturday, closed to within two shots on the 16th but could only match pars with the leader on the penultimate hole.

Appleby holed out for par at the 18th before Singh tapped in a short birdie to account for the final margin

"I just left it too late," Singh said.

"I'd been playing well all day... all week. I was a little disappointed on the greens."

Putting has never been Singh's strong suit and it was his downfall over the final two rounds, as he took 32 putts in the third round and needed 30 on Sunday.

"The putter took a lot away from me this week," Singh said.

"There's no excuse for my poor putting. I couldn't see the lines very well and they just didn't want to go in."