March 18, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

ORLANDO (Florida), March 17: Tiger Woods produced a superb 24-foot putt for a dramatic birdie on the final hole to claim his ninth win in 10 tournaments at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.

World No 1 Woods went into the 18th hole level with fellow American Bart Bryant on nine-under-par and looked set for a play-off.

Journeyman Bryant, ranked 137th before this event, had kept the pressure on Woods throughout with a consistent round of 67 but was left to watch a perfect putt for victory – Woods’s seventh successive worldwide.

Woods celebrated with a punch of his fist and threw his cap to the ground before picking the ball out of the hole with the massed ranks of fans cheering his success.

Woods had struggled to find his form in the opening two rounds and who had been down in 20th place, seven shots off the lead on Friday.

But the 32-year-old said he was more pleased with his drive to the green where, with the wind changing direction, he opted for a five iron and found the green and his chance of that tournament-winning birdie.

Woods ended the day with a four-under-par 66 for a total of 10-under 270.

The only real blemish came when he three-putted for a bogey at the 10th to give Bryant an opening.

Bryant, without a PGA tour win since 2005, was philosophical about his defeat.

Woods’s 64th PGA Tour victory means he draws level with Ben Hogan in the list of all-time rankings – only Sam Snead (82) and Jack Nicklaus (73) have won more.

Last year’s winner Vijay Singh of Fiji and Americans Cliff Kresge and Sean O’Hair were tied for third place.

Leading final-round scores:

270 – Tiger Woods (US) 70, 68, 66, 66.

271 – Bart Bryant (US) 68, 68, 68, 67.

273 – Cliff Kresge (US) 67, 68, 71, 67; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 66, 65, 73, 69; Sean O’Hair (US) 72, 69, 63, 69.

274 – Ken Duke (US) 67, 67, 72, 68; Hunter Mahan (US) 68, 72, 65, 69.

276 – Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 71, 66, 73, 66; Alex Cejka (Germany) 67, 70, 71, 68; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 68, 65, 74, 69; Tom Pernice Jr (US) 73, 66, 68, 69; Tom Lehman (US) 66, 69, 71, 70; Bubba Watson (US) 67, 69, 68, 72.

277 – Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72, 69, 70, 66; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70, 71, 68, 68; Brandt Snedeker (US) 70, 70, 68, 69.

278 – Woody Austin (US) 71, 67, 72, 68; Frank Lickliter II (US) 69, 71, 68, 70; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 71, 70, 67, 70; Lee Westwood (Britain) 66, 68, 72, 72.

279 – Phil Mickelson (US) 72, 67, 71, 69; Boo Weekley (US) 71, 69, 70, 69; Richard Sterne (South Africa) 69, 71, 70, 69; Pablo Martin (Spain) 71, 71, 68, 69; John Mallinger (US) 69, 70, 70, 70; Brian Gay (US) 70, 71, 68, 70; Chad Campbell (US) 68, 68, 72, 71; Dicky Pride (US) 71, 70, 67, 71; Steve Marino (US) 75, 67, 66, 71; Nick Watney (US) 69, 67, 70, 73.

280 – Webb Simpson (US) 71, 71, 70, 68; D.J. Trahan (US) 70, 72, 70, 68; Billy Mayfair (US) 69, 71, 71, 69; J.J. Henry (US) 65, 70, 76, 69; Tim Clark (South Africa) 68, 70, 72, 70; Joe Ogilvie (US) 70, 70, 70, 70; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 70, 66, 73, 71; Pat Perez (US) 73, 65, 70, 72; Jim Furyk (US) 67, 67, 73, 73; Vaughn Taylor (US) 68, 67, 72, 73.

281 – Lucas Glover (US) 66, 75, 70, 70; D.A. Points (US) 68, 68, 73, 72; John Rollins (US) 70, 68, 71, 72.

282 – Brian Bateman (US) 69, 70, 75, 68; Bo Van Pelt (US) 69, 73, 71, 69; Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 69, 70, 73, 70; Will MacKenzie (US) 70, 71, 70, 71.

283 – Ian Poulter (Britain) 72, 70, 72, 69; John Senden (Australia) 70, 72, 72, 69; Kenny Perry (US) 69, 72, 72, 70; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 73, 64, 75, 71; Andres Romero (Argentina) 68, 71, 73, 71; Matt Jones (Australia) 70, 68, 72, 73.284 – Zach Johnson (US) 70, 71, 72, 71; Dustin Johnson (US) 68, 69, 75, 72; Mark Wilson (US) 70, 69, 71, 74; Richard Johnson (Britain) 69, 70, 70, 75; Brian Davis (Britain) 75, 64, 68, 77.

285 – Stephen Ames (Canada) 74, 68, 72, 71; Ben Crane (US) 70, 68, 75, 72; J.B. Holmes (US) 71, 67, 74, 73.

286 – Davis Love III (US) 72, 69, 73, 72; George McNeill (US) 70, 72, 71, 73.

287 – Andrew Magee (US) 72, 70, 75, 70; Fred Couples (US) 65, 73, 78, 71; Paul Goydos (US) 73, 67, 74, 73; Steve Elkington (Australia) 74, 68, 71, 74.

289 – Marc Turnesa (US) 70, 70, 77, 72; Robert Gamez (US) 72, 68, 76, 73.

292 – Steve Lowery (US) 68, 72, 79, 73.

294 – Heath Slocum (US) 71, 70, 73, 80.—Reuters