Bradley snatches WGC win

Keegan Bradley: Snatched victory at the 18th hole

Keegan Bradley captured the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone in dramatic fashion after Jim Furyk double bogeyed the last.

Furyk, who had a one-shot lead going into the final round, birdied the first three holes on Sunday and was never headed at any point until a remarkable final hole.

USPGA champion Bradley, six shots back with 13 holes left but just one behind teeing off at 18, looked to have blown his chance when his second shot plugged in a greenside bunker but he bravely holed a 15 footer to save par for a superb closing round of six-under 64.

Furyk also missed the green and then duffed his third into greenside rough. A modest fourth shot left him a five footer which he had to make to get into a play-off after Bradley had made par. But, after backing off, he pushed his putt right resulting in a double bogey which cost him the tournament.

Bradley, whose win should be enough to earn him a Ryder Cup debut next month, finished 13 under-par, while Furyk - round in 69 - fell into a tie for second with Steve Stricker, whose four birdies in the last five holes meant he matched Bradley's 64.

Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, both heading for their second caps against the Americans, shared fifth place on eight under behind Louis Oosthuizen in fourth, while Tiger Woods fired a bogey-free 66 to climb from 24th into a tie for eighth.

Fast start

Furyk, one ahead of Oosthuizen overnight, came out after a near three-hour storm delay to make a fast start and at three clear starting the back nine had a first World Golf Championship in his sights.

But Bradley, having already birdied the third and seventh, closed the gap to one by picking up further strokes at the 10th, 11th and 14th.

Both birdied the long 16th, Furyk from 18 feet and Bradley from 11, but the event will be remembered for Furyk's last hole rather than the 71 that preceded.

"There's no way I should have made worse than five," said Furyk afterwards.

"I've no-one to blame but myself and when things go wrong it's an empty pit.

"I'm disappointed - I saw my boys crying after the round and I guess it reminds you as an adult and a parent that you have to act in the proper way and do and say the right things.

"At worst I should be in a play-off. If I put the third shot on the green I put a lot of pressure on him to make that putt. For my fifth shot I hit the worst putt of the week."