<table> </table> Vijay Singh edged ahead of “Lighthorse” on Sunday in Akron, Ohio. But only after struggling to get past Stuart Appleby, Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson at the Bridgestone Invitational.On the verge of throwing away a tournament win, as Mickelson had done ahead of him, Singh of Fiji overcame some shaky putting on the back nine by making the only one that mattered — a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the last hole that gave him a 1-shot victory.Three times in the last year he had at least a share of the 54-hole lead 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 and held off hard-charging Westwood of England and Appleby of Australia by 1 stroke. The fast-fading Mickelson, who lost a 1-shot lead with three bogeys on his final four holes, finished 2 shots back.Singh captured his first World Golf Championship 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.As shaky as Singh looked down the stretch, Mickelson fared even worse.With his best chance to win a WGC title — especially with six-time Firestone champion Tiger Woods on the disabled list — Mickelson played bogey-free for 14 holes and had a 1-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 of South Africa (67).Singh finished at 10-under 270 and collected $1.35 million for a victory expected to move him to No. 4 in the world.

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Posted on Sun, Aug. 03, 2008 10:15 PM

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Golf report: Singh seizes World Golf Championship title at Bridgestone Invitational

South Korea's Shin wins Women’s British Open

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Vijay Singh edged ahead of “Lighthorse” on Sunday in Akron, Ohio. But only after struggling to get past Stuart Appleby, Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson at the Bridgestone Invitational.

On the verge of throwing away a tournament win, as Mickelson had done ahead of him, Singh of Fiji overcame some shaky putting on the back nine by making the only one that mattered — a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the last hole that gave him a 1-shot victory.

Three times in the last year he had at least a share of the 54-hole lead 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 and held off hard-charging Westwood of England and Appleby of Australia by 1 stroke. The fast-fading Mickelson, who lost a 1-shot lead with three bogeys on his final four holes, finished 2 shots back.

Singh captured his first World Golf Championship 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.

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

With his best chance to win a WGC title — especially with six-time Firestone champion Tiger Woods on the disabled list — Mickelson played bogey-free for 14 holes and had a 1-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 of South Africa (67).

Singh finished at 10-under 270 and collected $1.35 million for a victory expected to move him to No. 4 in the world.

| The Associated Press

Posted on Sun, Aug. 03, 2008 10:15 PM

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