Woods started the day in joint second place behind Cink

FINAL LEADERBOARD:
US unless stated
-10 Tiger Woods*, Stewart Cink
-9 Jim Furyk
-7 Paul Casey (Eng), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Davis Love III, Lucas Glover
-6 Luke Donald (Eng), David Toms
*Woods wins after play-off

Tiger Woods continued his rich vein of form by defending his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title - but only after overcoming Stewart Cink in a play-off.

Woods finished level with Cink at 10 under after 72 holes in Akron.

But the newly-crowned USPGA champion eventually prevailed against his fellow American at the fourth extra hole.

Britain's Paul Casey secured his place in the European Ryder Cup team by finishing joint fourth, three shots off the lead after a one-over-par 71.

Compatriot Luke Donald was a shot further back on six under.

Woods lost a three-stroke lead in the last five holes but hit back to seal victory.

It's always nice to walk away with a win, however you do it Tiger Woods

An eight-foot birdie eventually gave the world number one the first prize of nearly �700,000, 10 years to the day after he turned professional.

"I was very lucky to even be in a play-off," said Woods after clinching his fifth victory at Firestone Country Club in seven starts and the 52nd PGA Tour title of his career.

"I wasn't swinging the club very consistently today at all.

"I got hot on the back nine, made some nice putts and messed up on 16. But it's always nice to walk away with a win, however you do it."

Woods now lies joint fifth with Byron Nelson (52) in the all-time standings for PGA Tour victories.

Only Arnold Palmer (62), Ben Hogan (64), Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82) have won more.

Casey led by one with nine holes to play but slipped out of contention by completing the last eight holes in three over.

"I'm very happy with that," said the 29-year-old Englishman.

"I thought I played OK. I just didn't make anything on the back nine and was a little bit unlucky on the 16th."

Paul McGinley's hopes of joining Casey at the Ryder Cup took a slight knock, the Irishman finishing 66th.

He is now in the 10th and last automatic spot.