Woods prevails to claim victory

Tiger Woods claimed his fourth consecutive tour title after he beat Stewart Cink in a play-off to claim the Bridgestone World Championship in Akron.

Ten years to the day since he turned professional Tiger Woods reminded everybody that he is human - and still he won.

After losing a three-stroke lead in the last five holes Woods finished level with Cink on 10-under-par. However, he claimed his fifth win in eight years at Firestone Country Club when he sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the fourth play-off hole.

It was Woods' 13th play-off win in 15 attempts.

As at the Open last month and the US PGA championship last week, a European suffered playing with Woods in the final round. Paul Casey led by one with nine holes to play - and Woods was not even the player right on his heels at that moment.

But while the Englishman bogeyed the 11th and 13th the world number one sank birdie putts of 10 feet on the 10th, 35 feet at the 12th and then a 22-footer on the following green. Suddenly he was three strokes clear and nobody expected any result other than another Woods win.

But it was a long time in coming. A drive into the trees on the long 16th led to a bogey six and Cink birdied that and the next to draw level.

Just as two years ago Cink was trying to lift the title six days after being handed a Ryder Cup wild card. But, five years after Woods needed seven extra holes to defeat Jim Furyk on the course, the 30-year-old was not to be denied again.

Woods and Cink finished two ahead of Furyk, with Casey, three over par for the last eight holes, finishing only joint fourth in the end.

"I'm very happy with that," he said. "First time ever playing in the final group on a Sunday (in America) and with Tiger as well that was an experience. I thought I played okay. I just didn't make anything on the back nine."