Woodland claims maiden victory after Rose wilts

(GETTY IMAGES)

American Gary Woodland saved par with a 10-foot putt on the last hole to claim his first US PGA Tour title with a one-shot victory over compatriot Webb Simpson at the Transitions Championship in Florida yesterday.

Woodland used an uncanny touch with his putter to post a four-under-par 67 for a 15-under-par total of 269 on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook in Tampa.

A tightly packed leaderboard gave way to a late duel between Woodland, 26, and the 25-year-old Simpson, who was tied for the lead as he played the 18th.

Simpson hit his tee shot in the left fairway bunker and his second shot through the green about 50 feet from the cup, close to where Woodland had been in the group before.

His strong chip ran 20 feet past the hole and Simpson missed the par putt that would have forced a playoff, killing his shot at capturing his maiden PGA Tour victory.

American Scott Stallings was third on 12-under 272 after shooting 70, with fellow countryman Brandt Snedeker (70) another stroke away.

Third-round leader Justin Rose of Britain, who floundered with four bogeys in a row from the seventh, shot a 74 and was in a group of six on 274 that also included compatriot Martin Laird (70) and Brendon de Jonge of Zimbabwe (73).