Golf: Tiger keeps cool for NEC Invitational win

AKRON - Tiger Woods birdied the seventh playoff hole to defeat Jim Furyk in the third-longest playoff in PGA Tour history and win his third consecutive NEC Invitational yesterday at Firestone Country Club's South Course.

The dramatic win is Woods' first since the Memorial Tournament in early June and comes after five straight finishes outside the top 10, including the last three majors of 2001.

Woods has won five times this year on the PGA Tour, earning nearly $US5.5 million ($12.54 million), including $US1 million at the Invitational.

Furyk and Woods finished regulation play at 12-under-par 268 after Furyk shot a final-round one-over-par 71 and Woods a one-under 69. Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke was third at nine-under 271.

Woods and Furyk each parred the first six playoff holes before rain suspended play.

At the resumption, Furyk's tee shot rolled under a tree, leaving him no second shot to the green. Woods, who had reached the fairway, struck his approach shot to within 60cm. When Furyk's 24m par putt missed by 60cm, Woods tapped in for the win.

Both players produced dramatic shots to keep the playoff alive. At the first hole, the par-4 18th, Furyk's third shot from the back right bunker hit the lip and stayed in the bunker. He then saved par by chipping in.

At the second playoff hole, the par-4 17th, Woods sank a 4m putt to save par, while Furyk lipped out a birdie attempt from 3.5m. Furyk then missed 2.5m birdie putts to win at the third and fourth playoff holes. Both players made one-putt pars at the fifth playoff hole. At the sixth, Woods' 18m birdie attempt missed by 10cm, and pars again extended the match.

* British golfer Paul Casey won the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles yesterday by one stroke from Germany's Alex Cejka with a three-under 69 in the final round.

New Zealand's Stephen Scahill carded a four-under 68 to finish at 280, six shots behind Casey.

* American John Cook won the $US3 million ($6.87m) Reno-Tahoe Open tournament in Reno yesterday, shooting a brilliant eight-under 64 in the final round to pip Jerry Kelly by one shot.

New Zealand's Craig Perks also came home with his best round of the tournament, a 68, to finish on 283 for a share of 30th.

* Heather Daly-Donofrio claimed the first victory of her career at the $US800,000 Betsy King Classic at Kutztown, Pennsylvania, yesterday after Britain's Mhairi McKay missed a half-metre birdie putt on the final hole to force a playoff. Daly-Donofrio completed a three-under-par 69 and led by one shot as McKay played the par-five 18th.

She had little more than a tap-in to force extra holes but missed, giving Daly-Donofrio the win.

- AGENCIES