Tiger Woods won a record seventh WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title on Sunday, overhauling Padraig Harrington with a sizzling burst of scoring before benefiting from a late collapse by the Irishman. The American world number one fired a five-under-par 65 on a hot and humid day at Firestone Country Club to clinch his 70th PGA Tour victory by four strokes. After starting the final round three shots behind Harrington, Woods took control by covering the front nine in a sizzling five-under 30 on the way to a 12-under total of 268. Harrington, who had led for the first three rounds, regained a one-stroke cushion with three holes to play before his title bid unravelled with a triple-bogey eight at the 16th. A closing 72 earned him a tie for second with Australian Robert Allenby (66). Earlier British Open champion Stewart Cink of the US was a further two shots back at eight under after completing 12 holes. Bridgestone extends deal Title sponsorship of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational has been extended for a further four years, keeping the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event at Firestone Country Club until 2014. “I think the happiest person today might be Tiger (Woods), winning 60 or 70 percent of the time he plays here,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem told a news conference. The PGA Tour has lost four title sponsors this year due to the global economic downturn and Finchem was delighted by the tyre company's decision to extend the contract. “For Bridgestone to make this commitment in a down economy speaks a lot about the value of PGA Tour golf and International Federation of PGA Tour golf from a branding standpoint, an advertising standpoint, a global reach standpoint and a business-to-business platform standpoint.” Bridgestone Americas Incorporated president Mark Emkes added: “Even in a down economy, we still need to sell Bridgestone golf balls, Bridgestone clubs, Bridgestone tires and Firestone tires. And we think this venue is an excellent chance not only to show our brands here in the United States but on an international stage.” WGC events bring together the world's top 50 golfers and are ranked just one rung down from the four majors. Three of them are held in the US with a fourth, the HSBC Champions tournament in China.
