Snead tally now in sight for Woods

Tiger Woods won his ninth tournament of the year, fending off New Zealand's Grant Waite by one stroke to win the Bell Canadian Open in Ontario on Sunday night.

Tiger Woods won his ninth tournament of the year, fending off New Zealand's Grant Waite by one stroke to win the Bell Canadian Open in Ontario on Sunday night.

The world No 1 fired a seven-under-par 65 to hold off the battling Waite. The only golfer to win more events in a year was Sam Snead with 11 in 1950 - and Woods hasn't finished yet.

Woods birdied the 16th to take the lead, then matched Waite with a birdie at the 18th after a superb iron shot from a fairway bunker. Waite landed his approach shot on the green, giving him a chance to tie with an eagle, but Woods smashed a six-iron over the water to the back of the green and chipped to within a foot for a birdie and the title. Waite settled for a birdie and runner-up spot for the second straight week.

"Grant forced my hand to go for it because he hit the ball on the green, which meant he was a guaranteed birdie, if not possible eagle," Woods admitted.

Sergio Garcia of Spain was a distant third at 15-under on 273, shooting a 67. Sandy Lyle carded a 71 to finish on four-under at 284, tied for 48th place, while Paul Curry had a disastrous 74 to drop down to joint-65th on lever-par 288.

*The defending champion, Colin Montgomerie, joins the Masters champion, Vijay Singh, the world No 2, Ernie Els, and the Dane Thomas Bjorn as the first four players named for the Cisco World Match Play at Wentworth on 5-8 October.