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DORAL, Fla. — While Daylight Savings Time moved the clocks an hour ahead early yesterday morning, Tiger Woods was busy turning them back.
While the rest of us sprung ahead, Woods reminded us how good he used to be en route to winning the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral’s Blue Monster by two shots at 19-under par.
Steve Stricker finished second at 17-under, followed by Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia at 14-under.
It was Woods’ fifth victory in his last 19 tournaments, spanning the last year, and the 76th PGA Tour win of his career — just six shy of Sam Snead’s all-time Tour record. It was his second win of the year, coupled with his win at Torrey Pines in January.
“That’s how I know I can play,’’ Woods said. “To be able to bring it out a couple times this year and to be able to close out Ws and, on top of that, win prior to Augusta it always feels good.’’
Woods displayed his legendary prowess as the best closer ever to play the game, shooting a steady 1-under-par 71 to win for the 40th time in 42 tournaments in which he carried the outright 54-hole lead into the final round.
“I enjoy being there,’’ Woods said of owning a 54-hole lead. “That’s why I work my tail off — to be in that position. That’s why I prepare so hard — to be there. My record’s been pretty good over those years.’’
Woods, who took a four-shot lead into yesterday, has never lost a tournament when taking more than a 2-shot lead into the final round, going 17-for-17 — and that includes eight-for-eight in WGC events.
“He knew he was going to have to shoot under par to win,’’ Woods’ caddie, Joe LaCava, said. “Someone was going to make a run at him. His demeanor was to stay aggressive, but not do anything stupid. For 72 holes, every part of his game was great.’’
Particularly his putting.
In the ironic twist of the week, it was a putting-green practice session with Stricker, who set Woods straight on his alignment and posture, that was a turning point in Woods’ putting this week.
Afterward, Stricker, who finished two shots behind Woods, said he had no regrets about giving Woods the putting lesson.
“It’s good to see him win,’’ Stricker said. “Even though he clipped me by a couple shots it’s always good for us when he wins. He generates a lot for our sport. A lot of attention comes our way when he wins. Plus, he’s a friend and it’s good to see him playing well and happy.’’
Asked to quantify the number of strokes he shaved from his score thanks to Stricker’s help, Woods said, “All that matters is two.’’
Asked if he would have been able to win this week without having bumped into Stricker on Wednesday, Woods said, “I would like to say I probably would have, but there’s a ‘but’ there. To have Stricks’ help me out like that … he’s been a great friend.’’
If there were one shred of doubt in Woods’ mind — and that’s unlikely — the one time in his career when he had lost a four-shot lead came at the 2010 Chevron World Challenge, when he blew a 4-shot, 54-hole lead to McDowell.
That tournament is not an official PGA Tour event, but you can bet McDowell was using it as motivation.
The Northern Irishman, however, never made a strong run at Woods, never managing to put a dent into the four-shot lead at the start of the round.
“The last time I thought I had a shot at catching him was probably (Saturday), to be honest,’’ said McDowell, who shot a final-round 72. “He’s really in control of his game. He was going to be really hard to catch.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com