Cink closes for first 2008 victory, wins by shot in Hartford

"I played really well," he said. "I had a chance to win on the back nine on Sunday, so I couldn't be more happy."

Slocum was on Cink's heels for most of the round. But Cink matched him birdie for birdie on Nos. 6, 9, 13 and 15.

Cink hit the green on 16 and made par. Slocum came up short, pitched his ball well right and ended with a bogey that knocked him two shots behind, where he finished.

"I positioned myself nicely. I just didn't hit a few more quality shots," Slocum said. "Obviously, I needed to hole a few more putts."

Cink played tentatively for most of the front nine. He three-putted on the fourth hole, dropping into a tie with Vijay Singh and Armour. He regained sole possession of the lead on the ninth, sinking a 21-foot downhill putt for birdie. His birdie on the 13th hole kept him one shot up.

Singh was in contention until he bogeyed the par-5 13th, which he had birdied the previous three days. He hit his tee shot right and into the water. He finished in fifth place at 14 under.

"I had chances on the front nine, but I did not capitalize," he said.

After three consecutive days of calm winds and soft greens, conditions deteriorated on Sunday. In an effort to avoid predicted thunderstorms, tournament officials moved the start up to 7:30 a.m. and had the golfers going in threesomes off the first and 10th tees.

The winds began picking up and play was suspended for just over an hour when thunder began rumbling over the course shortly before 1 p.m.

"Sometimes when you have to wait a little bit, you have to go through a few extra trials, it seems a little bit sweeter," Cink said. "This time, the way that I was able to do it - I had the lead all weekend, we had to endure a rain delay and guys were firing left and right. I stayed a step ahead, just enough. I think that makes it even more sweet."