Vijay Singh regained the world number one spot from Tiger Woods despite handing victory to Kenny Perry at the Bay Hill Invitational in Florida.
Perry, who shot a closing 70 to reach 12-under, took the title after Singh, having erased a three-hole deficit with four to play, double-bogeyed the last.
Singh finished tied for second with Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who returned a best-of-the-day 66.
Woods could only finish in a tie for 23rd alongside Ernie Els on one over.
Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke carded a 68 for a share of eighth place with Spain's Sergio Garcia.
Having got level at 12-under par at 17, Singh went straight at the pin at 18 only to see his ball bounce off the rocks protecting the front of the green.
American Ryder Cup player Perry had the luxury of being able to play safe to the left side of the green before two-putting for victory.
"If I had to do it again, I probably would have hit a different club and played safer and seen if Kenny had made a mistake"
He said: "I thank Vijay for giving me the tournament. He attacks the pin on just about every hole. He has no fear. That's just theway he plays golf.
"I was stunned when he came up short. Watching his ball, it looked like it was going to fly right next to the hole."
Singh said: "I was trying to win, I just hit the wrong club. The wind shifted on me.
"If I had to do it again, I probably would have hit a different club and played safer and seen if Kenny had made a mistake, but that's not the way I play. I play aggressive and I went for the flag."
The Fijian insisted regaining the world number one spot was not much consolation, adding: "Big deal. I lost the tournament. I wasn't worried about the ranking."
As for McDowell, it was his best-ever performance on the PGA Tour.
It should lift McDowell into the world top 50 and put him on course for a debut in the Masters at Augusta next month.