Mahan stands tall at Firestone

While world number one Tiger Woods and second-ranked Phil Mickelson returned scores they would prefer to forget, Mahan fired a six-under 64 to seal his first victory in an elite World Golf Championships event and his third on the PGA Tour.

Three strokes off the pace going into the final round, the 28-year-old Mahan charged into contention with a sizzling front nine of five-under 30 and made two clutch putts to save par over the last four holes to post a 12-under total of 268.

Ryan Palmer, co-leader overnight, carded a 69 at Firestone Country Club to finish second, a stroke ahead of fellow American Bo Van Pelt (67) and South African Retief Goosen (65).  Sean O'Hair, who was level with Palmer at the start of the day, returned a 71 for fifth place at eight-under.

Palmer and O'Hair each led outright early on in the final round but Mahan made the most significant move with his red-hot run to the turn to draw level with O'Hair at 11-under.

O'Hair slipped back with a three-putt bogey at the eighth and Mahan rolled in an 11-foot birdie putt at the 13th to establish a two-stroke advantage which he never relinquished.
Woods, a seven-time winner here, produced his worst finish on the US circuit after closing with a 77 while Mickelson squandered a golden opportunity to replace his fellow American as world number one, finishing tied 46th after carding 78.

Woods produced his highest final score as a professional to share 78th place in the 80-player field.

Leading scores (US unless mentioned): 268: Hunter Mahan (71, 67, 66, 64). 270: Ryan Palmer (70, 68, 63, 69). 271: Retief Goosen (SA, 67, 66, 73, 65); Bo Van Pelt (67, 68, 69, 67). 272: Sean O'Hair (67, 70, 64, 71).