Final round: Singh ends victory drought, sets record

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The No. 15 player in the world became the winningest international player in PGA TOUR history with his victory at Firestone CC.

AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- Vijay Singh raised both hands over his head when he saw his 3-foot par putt swirl into the cup for a one-shot victory, a familiar sight for someone who has won 32 times on the PGA TOUR.

This was more relief than celebration at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

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Taylor's shot of the day

On the verge of throwing away a World Golf Championships event, as Phil Mickelson had done ahead of him, Singh overcame some shaky putting Sunday on the back nine of Firestone Country Club by making the only one that mattered.

Three times in the last year he had at least a share of the 54-hole and failed to finish it off. Needing two putts from 30 feet to end an 0-for-34 drought on the PGA TOUR, the last thing he wanted was the kind of putt that has given him fits.

But he trusted the countless hours of practice he spent last week on such a putt, and it paid off.

"What a relief," Singh said. "I didn't think I could finish it there at the end."

With par putts on the final two holes, Singh closed with a 2-under 68 to hold off hard-charging Lee Westwood and Stuart Appleby and the fast-fading Mickelson, who lost a one-shot lead with three bogeys on his final four holes.

Singh captured his first World Golf Championships event and won for the 32nd time on the PGA TOUR, putting him in the record books for most victories by an international player. He had been tied with Harry "Lighthorse" Cooper of England since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2007, a victory that seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Although I hadn't won, I was confident I was going to win," Singh said. "I told everybody that knows me that it's just a matter of time, it's going to come. This was a six-week run, and I was geared up to win. I'm glad that it happened the first week out."

As shaky as Singh looked down the stretch, Mickelson fared even worse.

With his best chance to win a World Golf Championships title -- especially with six-time Firestone champion Tiger Woods on the disabled list -- Mickelson played bogey-free for 14 holes and had a one-shot lead until taking bogey from the bunker on three of the last four holes, and watching yet another birdie putt from 10 feet hang on the edge. He closed with a 70 and tied for fourth with Retief Goosen (67).

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TRIVIA QUESTION

Can you answer this? This was the 10th World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, which started in 1999. Vijay Singh's final score of 270 was 2.1 shots over the average for all 10 years, which is 268.9. But how many shots over the lowest score is it? See answer at bottom of page

Sunday's Best

EASIEST HOLE TOUGHEST HOLE The par-5, 512-yard second was easiest with a Sunday scoring average of 4.463. EAGLES: 2 BIRDIES: 45 PARS: 29 BOGEYS: 2 The par-4, 511-yard ninth was the toughest with a Sunday scoring average of 4.30. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 6 PARS: 44 BOGEYS: 30

SHOT OF THE DAY ROUND OF THE DAY Vaughn Taylor misses the green at the 11th but gets a lucky bounce and almost holes out. Watch his shot. Paul Casey gets top honors with his final-round 5-under 65, earning him a top 10. Check out his scorecard

QUOTE OF THE DAY

As you get older, I guess you just have to work a little harder ... That shows that if you're physically fit, you can play as long as you want to play. Look what Greg Norman did. He looks pretty much the same as he did when he was playing the TOUR. He's as fit as he ever was. -- Vijay Singh on playing past age 40

SINGH OFF TO THE BEST START FOR HIS SIX-WEEK PLAN
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

AKRON, Ohio -- Vijay Singh certainly didn't want to leave himself a 4-footer.

Singh

Not after missing a putt from just that distance at the 16th hole. Not with Lee Westwood and Stuart Appleby breathing down his neck. And certainly not with a tenuous one-stroke lead and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational hanging in the balance.

But that's exactly what Singh did on the 72nd hole Sunday at Firestone Country Club Sunday afternoon.

This time, though, the belly putter cooperated, and the hours spent on the practice green at TPC Sawgrass preparing for just such an eventuality paid off.

Singh made the putt and raised both fists in the air as he won his first World Golf Championships title in 26 starts. The victory was the 32nd of his World Golf Hall of Fame career and ended a victory drought of nearly 18 months.

The win, which was worth $1.35 million and 4,725 FedExCup points, positions Singh among the favorites to capture what would be his third PGA Championship next week at Oakland Hills.

"It gives me a lot of confidence," Singh admitted. "You know, I struck the ball really well, especially with my irons. Except for the second day, my driver was really good all week. But it puts me in a really good frame of mind going into next week and the rest of the season."

Singh, you see, has a six-week plan. It started with the Bridgestone Invitational, continues at the PGA and with any luck -- and continued solid play -- will end at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola with Singh in contention for the $10 million bonus.

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WESTWOOD EAGER TO TURN HIGH FINISHES INTO VICTORIES
It was another "almost" for England's Lee Westwood on Sunday in Akron, Ohio. The No. 1 player in Europe and No. 18 player in the world finished in a tie for second with Stuart Appleby at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, one shot behind winner Vijay Singh.

Westwood

"When I get into contention and play in the last group, I feel very comfortable out there now," Westwood said. But not comfortable enough. When Singh left his birdie putt on the 18th about 4 feet short, Westwood had a chance to force a playoff. Unfortunately for the Brit, a misread putt for birdie all but handed the title to the competition.

Westwood, however, isn't going to let another close one get him down. Despite finishing solo third -- one shot out of a playoff with Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate -- at the U.S. Open, tying for fifth at the French Open, 19th at the Scottish Open and now second at Firestone Country Club, the Englishman isn't giving into frustration.

"I think it will give me confidence, really," Westwood said of heading into next week's last major of the season coming off a strong finish in Ohio. "I thought I handled the pressure pretty good."

Make no mistake that Westwood will be a man to watch at Oakland Hills.

CASEY SETS HIS SIGHTS ON MORE THAN A MAJOR
After a final-round 65 that moved Paul Casey from a tie for 23rd to a tie for eighth in Akron, yet another Englishman has something to smile about.

Casey

Casey, who plays mostly on the European Tour, will be sticking around the States a little longer to play in the PGA Championship next week at Oakland Hills, and his top-10 finish at Firestone has the young Brit honing in on a big goal.

What is that goal? Making the Ryder Cup team. "I'm well out of the points," Casey said after his final round. "There are many good players. I may be wrong, but I'd say someone like Sergio, Poulter, I don't know where Monty is, Luke, for example, they're all outside of qualification right now, and I'm below those guys, and I don't really want to rely on a pick."

European Team Captain Nick Faldo will be watching the next few tournaments for Kenny Perry-like passion to fill those last two spots, but Casey hopes he won't have to book a ticket to Kentucky that way. "You know, this week is a good start, but I really need to throw in a couple of top fives or a win or something like that to get myself on that team."

Casey does head to the PGA Championship next week with good memories on the mind. The 2004 Ryder Cup was contested at Oakland Hills, where Europe predictably took the trophy. And for Casey, next week could be the perfect stepping stone from his strong finish this week in Ohio. "It is an important run, but I've got to take it one round at a time, one shot at a time. The ultimate goal is to try and win next week. I mean, the majors are still the ultimate thing, but I'd love to be part of that Ryder Cup team.

"Those are probably the greatest memories I've ever had while being on a golf course, and I'd like to be part of another team, and I've got some playing to do for that team before we get there."

INSIDE THE ROPES WITH THE PGA TOUR NETWORK
XM Satellite Radio announcer Brian Katrek offers these observations from Sunday's action. Listen to PGA TOUR Live coverage on XM 146 or right here at PGATOUR.COM.

There's lots of variety here at Firestone in their three golf courses. They have the North course which is shorter with more water in play, the new West course with a very links-like feel, and this South course. It is classic and tree lined. An easy walk for players and spectators alike. We don't see many like this on TOUR anymore.

I don't think we will see Vijay with a belly putter at the PGA Championship.

Early in the week at the British Open, I talked to Padraig Harrington about having the Claret Jug with him all year long. Of course, it was great, but he did say that the carry case for the Jug was a little big. It was hard to transport on airplanes. He actually said that he hoped they gave him a smaller box if he won it back. He won it back and told me Sunday moring before his round, that they still haven't made a smaller case. But they are working on it.

Smoking is not cool. And no one looks cool smoking. Except Miguel Angel Jimenez.

TRIVIA ANSWER

You're probably not surprised to hear that the lowest four-round score at the Bridgestone Invitational came from one Tiger Woods at the 2000 tournament. That year, Tiger put together rounds of 64, 61, 67 and 67 for a total score of 259. That makes this week's winning total of 270 exactly 11 shots over Tiger's low.