GOLF/BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL:AUSTRALIA'S ADAM Scott emerged as one of the clear favourites for this week's US PGA when he closed with an imperious, five-under-par 65 to cruise to a wire-to-wire victory in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

As Rory McIlroy hit a 67 to snatch a share of sixth on 10 under par and boost his confidence ahead of the final major of the season, 31-year-old Scott continued to use his broom-handle putter like a wand to win by four shots from American Rickie Fowler (66) and England’s Luke Donald (66) on 17 under par with Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa (69) a shot further back in a tie for fourth with Australia’s Jason Day (69).

It was a hugely positive experience for McIlroy who has struggled since his US Open win six weeks ago, finishing 25th in the British Open and 34th in last week’s Irish Open in Killarney.

“It’s been a very productive week,” McIlroy said. “To shoot four rounds in the 60s and have a good a weekend is a lot of positives going into next week.

“It would have been nice to give myself a chance to win but I just didn’t hole enough putts. But it was a good week and good confidence builder going into next week.

“I am playing well and really happy with the way I am hitting it. I am driving it a lot better than I have the last couple of weeks so I am ready for it.”

Scott led by a shot from Ishikawa and Day with a round to play but after playing his first 10 holes in two under, he chipped in from the fringe at the 12th and then birdied the 14th – as Ishikawa three-putted – to move four clear before clinching an emphatic victory with a five-foot birdie putt at the last.

It was another Firestone victory for Scott’s caddie Steve Williams, whose ex-boss Tiger Woods faces a race against time to be ready for the US PGA after a closing 70 left him tied for 37th on one over.

Playing in his first event after a 12-week break due to knee and Achilles tendon injuries, the 35-year-old former world number one birdied three of his last four holes but hit just five fairways on rollercoaster round.

Buoyed by his finish despite finishing dead last in the field for driving accuracy, Woods said: “I had it in spurts this week. I hit it really well and then I’d lose it and get it back. Today was a good example of that.”

Asked if he’d like another event before playing a major, Woods said: “It would be nice, but hey, I’ve got three days, so I’m going to worry about these three days and apply it accordingly and be ready come Thursday.”

McIlroy apart, it was a disappointing week for the Irish contingent with Padraig Harrington the next best in joint 59th on six over after a closing 72.

The 39-year-old Dubliner, who followed two early birdies with five bogeys in the last 12 holes, finished the week tied for 70th in the 76-man field for fairways hit and 70th for greens in regulation.

And while he’s hoping to join forces with top coach Pete Cowen after consulting him on Saturday, he knows he must wait until after the US PGA and rely on his timing and his mental strength to help him contend in Atlanta.

“I definitely need to do a bit of work on my pace putting but outside of that some areas were better today,” Harrington said. “It certainly gives me some hope going forward. I was more positive today than yesterday.

“The only way I am going to win the US PGA is with my mental game. That’s where I will be focusing. If you are not in the right place mentally you are not going to handle it coming down the stretch.”

Graeme McDowell closed his disappointing week with a one-over 71 that left him in 65th place on nine over and while he insisted his game is not too far away heading into the final major of the season, he confessed he has work to do between now and Thursday.

After following two early birdies with bogeys at the 10th, 17th and 18th, the 32-year-old Ulsterman said: “The golf swing felt more like it but I just couldn’t score and putted awfully. I’ve got two or three days’ work to come and get the game polished up and I will be ready.”

Darren Clarke opened with rounds of 77 and 74 alongside Woods but followed a 69 with a closing 72 to finish tied 68th on 12 over. Clarke said: “I had a tough start to the week but today was probably the best I have had out of any of the four, but I putted so poorly, I just could not read the greens for love nor money.”