Tom Lehman birdied five of the last six holes to win the Williams World Challenge exhibition event by three shots from David Duval in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The 40-year-old, without a win on the US PGA Tour since the 1996 Tour Championship, earned $1 million for his victory.

He closed with a three-under 67 for a 13-under 267 total on the Grayhawk course, which was pelted by a rain and a hail storm that halted play for about an hour. Duval shot a 70 for a 270 total.

The final round became a matchplay showdown between Duval and Lehman after none of the other 10 players in the field could make a move on the front side.

Duval, who won four times in the first three months of the 1999 season and appears poised for another fast start on the regular tour, birdied the par-four 10th to take a one-stroke lead.

But Duval, who was brilliant with every club this week except the putter, repeatedly missed makable birdie putts over the final nine holes, while Lehman took control.

Lehman, who bogeyed two of the first four holes, got his round rolling by saving par with a 10-foot putt on the par four 12th.

His tee shot caught a fairway bunker and his second shot ended up in a bunker in front of the green. After Duval's 13-foot birdie putt lipped out, Lehman ran in a 10-footer.

Lehman grabbed a share of the lead at the par three 13th with his first birdie of the day.

Both players matched birdies on 14 and 15, then Lehman hit a four-iron shot within 18 inches of the hole on the 211-yard, par three 16th. Duval's four-iron shot landed eight feet away, but he again missed.

Lehman tapped in, then finished off his win with an eight-foot birdie putt on the par four final hole. Duval closed with a bogey after putting his second shot behind a greenside bunker.

Duval earned $500,000 for his efforts. One of Duval's four wins last year came at the Players Championship, where he took home the $900,000 first prize. He finished second on the 1999 money list with a staggering $3,641,906.

World number one Tiger Woods shot a 41 on the front nine and finished with a 76.

It was his worst round since a 76 in the 1998 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and only the third time he's failed to match or break par in his last 36 rounds. He finished 10th with a 282 total.

The foundation bearing Woods' name will receive his winnings from this unofficial and exclusive event. In addition, $120,000 will be donated to the Payne Stewart Memorial in honour of the golfer who died in a plane crash October 25th.

Fiji's Vijay Singh finished eight shots back in third, closing with a 69 for a 275 total. Davis Love III (67) was fourth at 277.

Spain's Sergio Garcia, who put his second shot into the water on the final hole and double-bogeyed, shot a 70 to finish fifth at 278.

Scotland's Paul Lawrie slipped back after closing with a four-over 74, but still picked up $200,000 for finishing the tournament in seventh place on level par.