Westwood signs off on positive note at Firestone

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Britain's Lee Westwood had to settle for a share of second place after narrowly missing birdie chances on the last two holes at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday.

Back on American soil for the first time since finishing third at the U.S. Open in June, Westwood missed a seven-footer on 17 and a 15-footer from the fringe on 18 to finish one stroke behind winner Vijay Singh.

However, the 35-year-old Englishman was delighted with his late fightback in the final round after trailing by five shots with 11 holes to play at Firestone Country Club.

"I gave myself a real good look at it," Westwood told reporters after closing with a one-under-par 69.

"I had a good putt on 17. I thought when I started it off, it would go in but it just went a lot more than I thought.

"And 18, I didn't start it far enough right. I thought it was just outside the lip and it moved a foot.

"But I hit some nice shots under pressure over the last few holes. The wedge into 17 was a lovely shot, one of the best I've hit for ages, took the spin off it."

Westwood, whose only PGA Tour title came at the New Orleans Classic a decade ago, said he had gained a considerable boost in self-belief after posting his best major finish at Torrey Pines two months ago.

VERY COMFORTABLE

He fell agonizingly one stroke short of a playoff for the U.S. Open, where Tiger Woods beat fellow American Rocco Mediate at the 19th hole before ending his season to have knee surgery.

"When I get into contention and play in the last group, I feel very comfortable out there now," Westwood said. "I've got a routine I'm going through and nothing phases me too much.

"I know as well as anybody what can happen and I know it's not easy to finish off around this golf course because a lot can happen on the back nine. They're not easy holes."

Westwood was especially pleased with the way he recovered from a double-bogey at the par-three seventh where he needed two shots to escape from a greenside bunker.

"This will give me confidence, really," the former world number four said. "You know, things like seven do happen and to come back from that was great.

"You have to hit it in the fairways, which I did mostly, and I gave myself good birdie chances. My distance control and my irons were good, and I thought I handled the pressure pretty good."

(Editing by John O'Brien)