Tiger Woods, playing superbly in wet conditions at Firestone
Country Club, cruised to an eight-shot victory at the
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday.
One stroke behind pacesetting Rory Sabbatini at the start of the
day, Woods fired a five-under-par 65 to win the tournament for a
record sixth time, and a third year in a row.
The American world number one overhauled Sabbatini with three
birdies in the first four holes before romping to his 58th PGA Tour
career title and fourth this season.
He twice chipped in from just off the green en route to an
eight-under total of 272 and a 14th individual victory in a World
Golf Championships event.
Britain's Justin Rose fired a four-birdie 68 to share second
place with South African Sabbatini (74) at level par, one ahead of
American Chris DiMarco (70) and Australia's Peter Lonard (68).
Woods, who has also won six times at the WGC-CA Championship,
made the best possible start on a damp, overcast morning.
The 31-year-old struck his approach to six feet to birdie the
par-four first and picked up another shot at the par-five second
after reaching just short of the green in two.
Having struggled with his putter earlier in the week, Woods took
advantage of rain-softened conditions by rolling in birdie putts
from 16 feet at the fourth and sixth to tighten his grip.
After his second shot at the par-four ninth ended up in the lap
of a spectator sitting beside the green, Woods overshot the putting
surface with his third before conjuring a magical chip from 17 feet
to salvage his par.
Out in four-under 31, he chipped in from 33 feet to birdie the
par-three 12th and stretch his lead to eight, leaving his closest
rivals to fight it out for second spot.
Sabbatini birdied the opening hole before losing ground with
bogeys at the fourth and fifth. His challenge effectively ended
when he double-bogeyed the ninth after finding the rough with his
first two shots.
Argentina's Andres Romero briefly held a share of second place
with Rose before triple-bogeying the 10th on his way to a 71 and a
tie for sixth at two over.
(China Daily via Reuters August 6, 2007)
