Sabbatini slip gifts Furyk the title

Rory Sabbatini missed a two-foot birdie putt that would have forced a play-off to hand Jim Furyk the title at the Mercedes Championships.

Furyk finished with a six-under-par 67 and took a one-stroke lead with an eight-foot birdie putt at the 663-yard 18th, then waited behind the green as Sabbatini approached.

The South African needed to two-putt from 60-feet to force a play-off, but he burned the left edge of the cup with his second attempt and had to settle for second place.

Furyk ended with an 18-under-par four-round total of 274 to claim his sixth career title.

Sabbatini was one shot ahead of fellow countryman Ernie Els and Masters champion Vijay Singh of Fiji.

World number one Tiger Woods finished six strokes off the pace tied for eighth on 280 after carding a final round 69.