Sport

Woods hangs on to claim title

Tiger Woods clung on to add another million dollars to his burgeoning bank balance as America's golfers twisted the knife once…

Mon Aug 30 1999 - 01:00

Tiger Woods clung on to add another million dollars to his burgeoning bank balance as America's golfers twisted the knife once more into Europe's Ryder Cup stars in Ohio.

The world number one, leading by five shots overnight, captured the joint-richest prize in golf at the NEC Invitational World Championship - but only after being chased all the way by Phil Mickelson.

The left-hander was the only man to answer the challenge thrown down by Woods's flawless third round 62 which had taken him five shots ahead of the field.

But if Mickelson displayed the full range of his sorcery in his bid to catch Woods, the Europeans once again capitulated in abject fashion. Only Sergio Garcia from the European contingent finished in red figures, the 19-year-old Spaniard going along smoothly until he entered the water twice at the par five 16th for a quadruple bogey nine which left him in eighth place on two-under-par.

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Padraig Harrington was the next best European at even par, but for no-one was the golfing torment worse than for Jose-Maria Olazabal. The Spaniard is one of Europe's sure-fire bankers to play all five rounds in Brookline next month and nurse along the rookies.

He followed up roller-coaster rounds of even par 70, 80 and 69 with a three-over-par final round of 73 yesterday which began with three straight sixes to take him five over after just three holes.

And while he pitched in for an eagle on the way home, it is a slide of alarming proportions. The basement of this tournament was full to bursting with Europe's Ryder Cup stars - Darren Clarke shooting a five-over-par final round 75 yesterday to finish nine over for the tournament and Colin Montgomerie coming in with a 76 after squandering three shots in the last two holes. And for Ryder Cup wild card Andrew Coltart it was a desperate conclusion, an eight at the par five second hole setting the tone for a seven-over-par 77.

Open champion Paul Lawrie finished up with a round of 74 which left him three over for the tournament and Frenchman Jean Van de Velde ended with a dismal 75.