Wisdom of Williams helps Scott last the course to land WGC title

On the same Firestone course in Akron where Williams helped Woods win an amazing seven times in nine visits, the 31-year-old Australian took the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational by four strokes with a near-flawless closing round of 65.

Scott, winning in America for a ninth time in his career, was caught at the start by compatriot Jason Day and then by Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa on three separate occasions.

But each time he responded and after a chip-in birdie at the short 12th, he opened a two-shot gap for the first time and continued to show the class that has now taken him back into the world’s top 10.

He crowned his 17-under-par performance in fitting fashion, almost holing his approach to the 464-yard last as Woods so nearly did during his years of dominance.

England’s world No 1 Luke Donald was always just off the pace despite only three bogeys all week, but birdies at the 16th and 18th for a 66 lifted him into a share of second place with 22-year-old American Rickie Fowler,.

Ishikawa, 19, and 23-year-old Day had to be copntent with finishing one shot further back.

Rory McIlroy, the leading light of golf’s young guns after his runaway US Open win in June, justified his favourite tag for this week’s USPGA Championship with a 67 for joint-sixth place.

And world No 2 Lee Westwood will also be heading to Atlanta in confident mood as well after a joint best-of-the-day 65 for joint- ninth, but it was a disappointing end for Scot Martin Laird, whose final round of 72 dropped him from fourth to 11th.

Westwood said: “It’s been pretty good the last two days. I’ve not hit many bad shots and I started to get the hang of the greens.

“The putting’s moving along nicely.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but the way I’m hitting it the harder it is next week the better.”

Woods, meanwhile, came joint- 37th in his first event after 12 weeks out injured.

A hat-trick of birdies from the 15th put a gloss on what was a real up and down day and week for the former world No 1.

At least a closing 70 for one over was a distinct improvement on last year – when he finished 78th out of 80 – but it was still something of a disappointment after an opening 68 had put him inside the top 20.

Woods said: “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 I managed to get it back at the end.

“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 PGA starts on Thursday). It’s just a matter of getting out there. I need to do the reps on the range.”

Justin Rose and Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson finished one ahead of Woods, though, after closing strongly with rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.

It represented a great comeback for last Sunday’s Irish Open winner Dyson, who was joint-last with Darren Clarke after an opening round of 77. But the Malton & Norton Golf Club man recovered particularly well to break par in the remaining three rounds.

Woods could take comfort from some of the players he beat in his first event for 12 weeks.

They included great rival Phil Mickelson after he double-bogeyed the last for a 72 and three -over aggregate, while Paul Casey was two over, Padraig Harrington six over, Graeme McDowell nine over and both Open champion Clarke and Ian Poulter 12 over.

Asked what help Williams was to him around the course, Scott smiled and said: “Around this place, are you kidding me? He knows it better than anyone and I’ve really enjoyed this week with Steve.

“It was a good round. I stayed so patient and I picked my moments.

“I’m really stoked. To win here in a World Golf Championship is huge.”

n Norway’s Suzann Pettersen won the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle by six shots yesterday afternoon.

Pettersen carded a stunning final round of 64 to finish 18 under par for the tournament, with Spain’s Azahara Munoz in second place.

Having set a course record of 63 yesterday, Petersen was only a shot away from equalling that today, going round in 17 under over the weekend.

She won the tournament at Portmanlock in 2008 and was delighted to double her tally of titles.

“It’s been a great week, it’s been a short week,” said Pettersen, who only arrived in Ireland on Wednesday.

“I just really like the way this course is playing, a little bit firmer. I played great with my putter and it was really nice and hot.”