FINAL-ROUND LEADERBOARD US unless stated -13 R Sabbatini (SA) -12 A Scott (Aus) -11 C Barlow -10 F Couples -9 J Rollins, L Westwood (GB) -8 T Immelman (SA), T Lehman, C Pettersson (Swe), D Wilson Selected others: -6 L Donald (GB) -1 J Rose (GB), G Owen (GB) +1 P McGinley (Irl)

The 29-year-old from Durban, twice a runner-up in his five previous starts this season, won by a stroke from defending champion Adam Scott.

Britain's Lee Westwood finished fifth after a bogey-free 68, his best finish in the United States for six years.

Australian Scott came through the field with a brilliant seven-under-par 64 to claim second in the windy conditions.

Sabbatini saw his four-shot overnight lead cancelled out first by Fred Couples and then American Craig Barlow and Scott.

But after Couples and Barlow found trouble at the short 16th, Sabbatini fired his tee shot to five feet, made the putt and kept the advantage over the two remaining holes.

Although he had three bogeys on his card, a one-over 72 gave him his third title on the circuit with a 13-under-par aggregate of 271.

Last year Sabbatini's main claim to fame was the controversy he sparked at the Booz Allen Classic, storming ahead of playing partner Ben Crane in a protest about the American's slow play.

I played my best in the toughest weather England's Lee Westwood

He apologised afterwards, but has said since that the "vast majority" of comments from fellow players about the incident were supportive.

"It was a rough year last year," Sabbatini said. "This year I was going to focus on what I was doing rather than what others were doing. I wanted to fly under the radar."

Couples, 46, lost his chance when he failed to get up and down from sand at the 16th and then failed to birdie the long 17th downwind.

Westwood, who had nothing better than a 17th-place finish in 15 starts in America last year, started the final day eight adrift of Sabbatini.

Despite birdies at the first two holes, he remained too far back to have a chance of the title, but his performance put him in good heart heading into the Accenture World Match Play in San Diego.

"I hit it pretty good all week and played my best in the toughest weather," he said.

"It's a culmination of the hard work I've been doing in the gym and on the range."

US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman again showed the sort of form that could earn him a playing spot at the K Club in September.

Not since Arnold Palmer in 1963 has anyone attempted to be a playing captain, but Lehman has yet to announce what he will do if he qualifies.

"I've been saying all along we want to field the 12 best players that the US has to offer, whoever they are," he said last week.