AKRON, Ohio (Aug. 30, 1999) -- Even Tiger Woods admitted he made his share of mistakes at Firestone Country Club on Sunday.

But as has become his habit of late, Woods made the putts when it counted to preserve a one-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson in the inaugural World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational.

Just like at the PGA Championship, the clincher came on the 17th where Woods rolled in a 15-footer that enabled him to survive three bogeys in his last five holes and win the $5-million event. Woods shot 71 Sunday to finish at 10 under par.

Three weeks earlier on the 17th hole at Medinah Country Club, Woods had saved par from eight feet to hold off a hard-charging Sergio Garcia to win his second major championship, also by a single stroke.

"There's something about having to make one on (No.) 17," said Woods, who recalled similar situations during his three U.S. Amateur wins. "I stay focused. That doesn't change. It's just that the ball seems to go in. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining about it."

Nor would he complain about the $1 million he earned that increased his 1999 PGA TOUR earnings to a record $4,266,585. The victory was the fifth in his last eight starts for the No. 1 player in the world, as well as Woods' 12th overall on the PGA TOUR.

"If it gets close like this, yeah, it does give you a sense of satisfaction and confidence to hold off a quality player such as Phil was today, and Sergio at the PGA and Vijay at the Memorial," said Woods, who got himself into position with a sterling 62 on Saturday.

"I've beaten some pretty good players this year, and I've been lucky to hold them off. They are some talented individuals. I have just been fortunate to come out on top."

At the age of 23 years, eight months and 30 days, Woods is the youngest player to win five times in a season since Jack Nicklaus made the Sahara Invitational his fifth victory of the 1963 season at the exact age -- to the day.

Nick Price was the last player to win five times in a single sesason on the PGA TOUR when he accomplished the feat in 1994.

Mickelson, who won the 1996 NEC World Series of Golf on this same course, put the pressure on Woods with a closing 65 that included five birdies in his first seven holes. Mickelson had started the day seven strokes behind Woods, who led Fred Couples and Nick Price by five.

"I felt like I had a good shot at winning the golf tournament after that," Mickelson said.

Woods noticed the movement on the leaderboard, too. But at the same time, he knew he still had a comfortable edge. "As well as he was playing, I had only lost one shot. That was what I tried to focus on," he said.

A birdie on the 11th hole then moved Mickelson into double-digits and within three strokes of Woods' lead. But Mickelson missed the fairway when he laid up on the 16th hole, a 625-yard par 5, and later made a costly bogey when he was unable to negotiate a saving three-footer.

Woods then began his bogey string at the 14th hole, and two straight left him briefly tied at 10 under with Mickelson after the Arizona State product's birdie on the par-4 17th.

But Mickelson promptly made bogey on the 18th -- hitting his drive into the rough, clipping a tree limb with his second shot and missing the green left with his third. That vaunted short game almost was Mickelson' savior but the chip skimmed the hole and the tournament was squarely in Woods' hands again.

"I'm pleased with the front nine and the fact that I had a shot at winning the tournament today when it looked like Tiger had already run away with it," said Mickelson, who finished second at the U.S. Open in June. "But I'm certainly disappointed with the way I finished.