Woods eyes his 15th major title

Tiger Woods today turned his attention to his quest for an elusive 15th major title after cruising to an eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational and 79th PGA Tour victory of his career.

Woods carded a closing level-par 70 at Firestone Country Club to win by seven shots and move within three victories of Sam Snead’s all-time record of 82.

And the world number one would love nothing more than securing win number 80 in this week’s US PGA Championship at Oak Hill, more than five years since his last major success in the 2008 US Open.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Woods said. “I feel like my game is pretty consistent. That’s one of the things I’ve noticed this year is that I have hit it pretty good most of the year and weeks I’ve putted well I’ve been able to win so it’s been pretty good so far.”

At 15 under par, Woods finished seven shots clear of defending champion Keegan Bradley and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, his 18th win in 42 World Golf Championship events giving him the first prize of 1.4million US Dollars and taking his career earnings in WGC tournaments to more than 25million US Dollars.

“I don’t know what it is, it just fits my eye,” the 37-year-old said of his record at Firestone. “Just because it fits your eye it doesn’t meant you’re going to play well, but for some reason it just comes out and I have put it together.

“Today I was conservative, just trying to make pars. I figured the highest score I could shoot was 70 and that would force the guys to shoot 63 or 62 and I just felt this was a perfect day to protect.

“The conditions were blustery and tough and it was hard to shoot a low number but it was easy to shoot a number around par.”

Woods carded just one birdie and one bogey in the final round, opening with nine straight pars before holing from seven feet on the 10th. His sole dropped shot came when he three-putted the 14th.

Bradley set the nominal clubhouse target with a closing 67, while Stenson matched the 70 of playing partner Woods with 16 pars, one bogey and a crucial birdie on the 17th.

The former Ryder Cup player has now finished third, second and second in his last three events, the middle of those being runner-up to Phil Mickelson in the Open at Muirfield.