• WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Round Four

Scott shows ominous form to land eighth PGA Tour title

Adam Scott claimed his eighth PGA Tour victory © PA Photos

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Adam Scott produced a measured display to claim his first World Golf Championship title, matching the best round of the day with a 65 to win the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Scott, with Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams on his bag, remained unflustered throughout his round and never looked in danger of suffering a final-day meltdown. Starting the day with a one-shot lead, Scott settled any early nerves with a birdie at the par-five second. Steady, rather than spectacular, golf ensured he hit the turn in 34 strokes, before a glut of birdies coming in showed Scott possessed the confidence needed to secure his biggest win since the Players Championship in 2004.

Birdies at 10 and 12 were followed by another at 14, where a brilliant 25-footer stretched his lead to four shots with four holes to play. Playing partner Ryo Ishikawa did his best to halt the Australian but, although a closing 69 saw him produce his best ever performance in America - finishing in a tie for fourth on 12-under, Scott eased across the line, holing a birdie at the last to finish four shots ahead of second-placed Rickie Fowler and Luke Donald.

Fowler finished strongly, firing in a birdie at the last to sign for a bogey-free 66 to finish on 13-under. A first Tour victory will have to wait but his game is in good order heading to next week's USPGA Championship. England's Donald ended on a high too, rolling in five birdies in a hugely positive 66.

Lee Westwood's form with the short stick will buoy the Englishman after he needed only 27 putts to equal Scott's effort of 65 on day four, helping him into a tie for ninth, on nine-under. US Open champion Rory McIlroy carded a morale-boosting 67 to finish a shot better than Westwood on 10-under.

Tiger Woods put a mid-round wobble behind him to finish with a flourish and head to the year's fourth major with renewed confidence. Sitting out of contention for an eighth title at Firestone, Woods began brightly with two early birdies before his game began to crumble. A double-bogey six at the par-four sixth was the start of his collapse, three further bogeys adding insult to injury.

However, the former world No. 1 rediscovered his touch, making a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th to return to one-over for the tournament. After signing for a final-round 70, Woods admitted he is still battling old habits as he attempts to incorporate changes to his swing.

"I got off to such a great start (two birdies in the first five), then absolutely lost it - a couple left, a couple right - and then got it back at the end," he said. "It's one of those things where I'm still getting a feel for it and keep falling back into my old patterns - old grip, old swing plane. I was fighting it a bit.

"Obviously I don't have a lot of time (before the USPGA, which starts on Thursday). It's just a matter of getting out there. I need to do the reps on the range.''

Playing his first event for 12 weeks following injury, Woods can take solace in the fact he beat a host of players including Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell. Four-time major champion and Woods' long-time rival Mickelson double-bogeyed the last for a 72 to leave him on three-over for the week. Last year's US Open champion McDowell continued his struggle to put his best golf together when it mattered, a one-over-par round giving him a disappointing nine-over aggregate.

Englishman Casey saved his best till last, driving superbly to put him in great positions to attack the pin. A 67, which only included one bogey, was his first sub-70 round of the tournament and he ended the week on two-over par.

Ian Poulter produced a typically gritty display to salvage some pride after his chastening third-round 80. Although his yardage was considerably less than 300, his driving accuracy was far greater on Sunday, helping him find more greens in regulation. A 72 was a huge improvement but finishing 12-over par will have hurt. The newly-crowned Open champion Darren Clarke finished alongside him after signing for a 72.

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