THOUSAND OAKS, California, December 7, 2009 (AFP) - Jim Furyk rolled in a birdie putt at the final hole on Sunday to win the Chevron World Challenge by one shot from Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.

Furyk, dressed in the red so often sported by tournament host Tiger Woods on Sundays, didn't get a handshake from the world number one, who didn't attend this year, citing injuries received in a car crash on November 27.

Despite his absence, Woods has cast a long shadow here, as scandal continued to swirl around the 14-time major champion over alleged marital infidelity.

Furyk, however, was happy to collect his first victory since the 2007 Canadian Open, firing a final round 67 at Sherwood Country Club for a 13-under total of 275.

Furyk said he was relieved that he didn't receive the expected barrage of questions about Woods all week.

"He and his wife are friends of mine," Furyk said. "As friends, you want to support them and wish them the best. They need the support of their friends right now, and I know that people are thinking about them."

But Furyk said his final-round attire of red shirt and dark trousers wasn't a nod to Woods, known for his red and black Sunday ensembles.

"They're brown pants," Furyk said. "I didn't mean to make a statement."

McDowell, who was a last-minute replacement for Woods in the 18-man field, carded a 70 for 276.

He birdied the last for sole possession of second place, and McDowell's runner-up finish moved him from 55th in the world rankings to 38th - with the top 50 in the final year-end rankings booking a spot in next year's Masters.

"I was certainly playing nothing-to-lose golf this weekend," said McDowell, who started the day tied for the lead with South Korean Yang Yong-Eun. "I just felt fortunate to be here anyway, so I really was going out today just trying to play as well as I possibly could and see where that left me.

"That birdie at the last was obviously pretty big from a world rankings point of view."

England's Lee Westwood faced a chip for birdie at the last that would have forced a playoff. His stance put one foot on a sprinkler and he was able to drop and putt from the fringe. He missed, then missed a four-footer to close with a bogey.

"After I missed the putt to tie on the last, I lost a bit of concentration," the European Order of Merit winner said.

Westwood finished with a 70 for 277, tied for third with Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who also shot 70.

Furyk claimed a first prize of 1.35 million dollars in a tournament that benefits Woods's charitable foundation.

Furyk, 39, started the day two shots off the lead. He picked up one shot on the front nine and took a one-stroke lead at 10-under with a birdie at 10.

He birdied the 11th and 13th, but missed the green en route to a bogey at 14. A long eagle attempt at 16 lipped out, but he tapped in for birdie.

At 17 he was in a bunker left of the green. He played it safe coming out, but made a 35-footer for a par.

"I couldn't get the ball close," Furyk said. "It wasn't the time to do anything heroic."

At 18, Furyk landed his nine-iron approach five feet from the pin.

"Best shot I hit all day," Furyk said. "I hit it flush."

While the win ended a victory drought for Furyk, the American was well aware that the triumph in this unofficial post-season didn't mark an end to his US PGA Tour skid.

"There's still a streak," he said philosophically. "On January 1 everyone's going to forget that on this golf tournament and say I haven't won on the PGA Tour.

And that's fine.

"I kind of prided myself on all those years in a row where I had won a golf tournament, outside of '04 where I was injured. It has been two seasons where I haven't, so obviously the goal is not to let that happen again."