Golf: Victory makes Woods the world No 1 again

TIGER WOODS won the Western Open at Lemont, Illinois, yesterday to return to the top of the world rankings. He closed with a one-under- par 71 for a three-stroke victory over Mike Weir.

Woods, who took the No 1 position from David Duval, saw his lead cut to one, before he sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the eighth. He then added two birdies on the back nine for a 15-under-par aggregate of 273.

It was Woods' third PGA Tour victory this season and his third win in four starts, including his triumph in Germany. Victory took his winnings this year to $2,545,990 (pounds 1.6m).

Laura Davies maintained her record of winning at least one European title each year since turning professional in 1985 when she strolled to victory in the Chrysler Open at Halmstad in Sweden yesterday.

The 35-year-old, who led by five overnight, secured her first win since the US Tour Players' Championship in Las Vegas in December, and her first in Europe since this event a year ago, by shooting 67 for a 15-under-par 273. She was eight shots clear of Alison Nicholas, with Sweden's Catrin Nilsmark, a further two shots back in third.

Se-ri Pak also retained a title on the LPGA Tour in Sylvania, Ohio. Last year Pak won the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic by nine shots, but this time it could not have been closer. She prevailed in a six-way play-off with a birdie at the first extra hole.

Results, Digest, page 9