Bryant holds nerve for victory

Digest/ US TOUR: Journeyman Bart Bryant conjured up a remarkable par at the 18th after driving into a hazard to stay at 16-under-par and capture the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, yesterday, from Fred Couples, who failed to birdie the last to force a play-off.

Bryant had seven birdies and three bogeys in his closing four-under-par 68. Crucially, he birdied the 17th to break the deadlock with Couples on 15 under.

Tiger Woods had challenged for a time but eventually closed with a four-under-par 68 to share third place on 12 under. Bo Van Pelt, like Woods, also finished on 12 under after a 68.

Left-handed Australian Richard Green, whose only career victory came at the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic, made a blistering start as he scorched the front nine at Muirfield Village Golf Club with four birdies.

The 34-year-old then went birdie-bogey-birdie at the turn to get to five-under with six to play and 13-under-par for the tournament.

But he then double-bogeyed the 15th and bogeyed the 17th to drop back to 10 under par and close with a two-under 70.

WOMEN'S GOLF: Iben Tinning from Denmark made it two wins in three weeks with a one-stroke victory in the £200,000 BMW Women's Italian Open at Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici in Rome yesterday.

Joint leader with Asa Gottmo overnight, Tinning saw the challenge of the Swede fade away after her two-under round of 70.

Ireland's Rebecca Coakley carded a two-under final round of 70 to finish tied for 10th on nine under.

Italian Veronica Zorzi, playing in the penultimate group, gave home fans something to cheer after emerging from the chasing pack to provide the test as she finished with an eagle three after pitching in at the last to take her to 16 under.

Tinning, Spanish Open champion last month, parred the 18th to clinch the title, closing with a six-under-par 66 to match Zorzi's final round but finish a shot ahead of her rival.

"I am so happy about this win, especially because it was so close out there.

You had to play your best to win. I couldn't have played any better," said Tinning, who won the Italian Open in 2002.

"It means quite a lot. After seeing Zorzi make that three on the last, that made it tougher, but then again, it's a par five and I made my par so I'm very delighted."

The victory keeps Tinning top of the European Tour money list.