GOLF:THIRD-ROUND leader Justin Rose could only manage a 74 as American Gary Woodland claimed his maiden PGA Tour triumph in the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Sunday.

Rose took a one-shot advantage into the final round and was tied for the lead until four straight bogeys from the seventh hole dropped him back.

The Englishman, seeking his third PGA Tour title in under a year, finished five shots behind Woodland, whose four-under-par final-round 67 moved him to 15 under overall and booked him a place at next month’s Masters.

He finished a stroke ahead of Webb Simpson (69), three clear of Tour rookie Scott Stallings (70) and four in front of Brandt Snedeker (70).

Rose had to settle for a share of fifth spot along with Scotland’s Martin Laird (70), Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge (73) and American trio Roland Thatcher (70), Chris Couch (71) and Marc Turnesa (66).

Woodland had an eventful back nine, picking up a shot at 10 and dropping one at 11 before surging into the lead with three straight birdies.

It looked like the nerves may be getting to him when he posted two successive bogeys, but he birdied the par-three 17th and then holed a 10-foot putt for par on 18.

Simpson then missed a 20-foot putt on the last hole and had to settle for second spot.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia, playing his first PGA Tour event in seven months, signed for a 71 to finish eight shots off the pace in a tie for 15th, with world number one Martin Kaymer of Germany firing a 69 to finish a further shot back in joint 20th.

Padraig Harrington had already missed the cut by two shots after opening rounds of 73 and 70.

(Leading scores, US unless stated)

269 – G Woodland 67 68 67 67.

270 – W Simpson 67 67 67 69.

272 – S Stallings 66 70 66 70.

273 – B Snedeker 72 64 67 70.

274 – B De Jonge 69 66 66 73, J Rose (Eng) 70 65 65 74, R Thatcher 68 67 69 70, M Laird (Sco) 66 70 68 70, C Couch 69 64 70 71, M Turnesa 68 67 73 66.

275 – S Cink 68 70 67 70, C Reavie 70 70 65 70.

276 – N Watney 66 72 65 73, J Furyk 67 70 69 70.

277 – P Hanson (Swe) 69 67 69 72, R Sabbatini (SA) 67 72 67 71, S Garcia (Spa) 68 66 72 71, J Senden (Aus) 67 72 68 70, G Willis 66 67 70 74.

278 – JJ Henry 69 72 66 71, J Leonard 67 71 69 71, J Rollins 70 71 69 68, Z Johnson 70 68 68 72, L Glover 73 64 72 69, M Manassero (Ita) 68 68 72 70, M Kaymer (Ger) 68 70 71 69, J Byrd 70 67 67 74.

279 – B Davis (Eng) 70 71 68 70, R Goosen (Rsa) 72 69 68 70, J Dufner 68 70 72 69, G Ogilvy (Aus) 70 67 73 69, B Watson 70 69 72 68, R Barnes 71 67 71 70, C Campbell 69 69 70 71, T Immelman (Rsa) 72 66 68 73, C Beckman 71 67 73 68.

280 – C Hoffman 68 71 70 71, J Durant 67 71 73 69, B Gay 67 73 67 73, D Toms 69 68 69 74, P Casey (Eng) 64 71 71 74, W Austin 71 69 71 69, S Bowditch (Aus) 72 68 71 69.