great Scott

Scott, winning in America for a ninth time in his career, was caught at the start by compatriot Jason Day and then by Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa on three separate occasions.

But each time he responded and after a chip-in birdie at the short 12th, he opened a two-shot gap for the first time and continued to show the class that has now taken him back into the world’s top 10.

He crowned his 17 under par performance in fitting fashion, almost holing his approach to the 464-yard last as Woods so nearly did during his years of dominance.

But it was a disappointing end for Scot Martin Laird, whose 72 dropped him from fourth to 11th.

Asked what help Williams was to him, Scott smiled and said: “Around this place, are you kidding me? He knows it better than anyone and I’ve really enjoyed this week with Steve.

“It was a good round. I stayed so patient and picked my moments.

“I’m really stoked. To win here in a World Golf Championship is huge.”

England’s world No 1 Luke Donald was always just off the pace despite only three bogeys all week, but birdies at the 16th and 18th for a 66 lifted him into a share of second place with 22-year-old American Rickie Fowler, while 19-year-old Ishikawa and 23-year-old Day were one further back.

Rory McIlroy, the leading light of golf’s young guns after his runaway US Open win in June, justified his favourite tag for this week’s USPGA Championship with a 67 for joint sixth place.

And world No 2 Lee Westwood heads to Atlanta in confident mood as well after a joint best-of-the-day 65 for joint ninth. Westwood said: “It’s been pretty good the last two days. I’ve not hit many bad shots and I started to get the hang of the greens.

“The putting’s moving along nicely. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but the way I’m hitting it the harder it is next week the better.”

Woods, meanwhile, came joint 37th in his first event after 12 weeks out injured. A hat-trick of birdies from the 15th put a gloss on what was a real up and down day and week for the former world No 1.

At least a closing 70 for one over was a distinct improvement on last year – 78th out of 80 – but it was still something of a disappointment after an opening 68 had put him inside the top 20.

Woods said: “I got off to such a great start [two birdies in the first five], then absolutely lost it – a couple left, a couple right – and then got it back at the end.

“It’s one of those things where I’m still getting a feel for it and keep falling back into my old patterns – old grip, old swing plane. I was fighting it a bit.

“Obviously I don’t have a lot of time [before the PGA starts on Thursday]. It’s just a matter of getting out there. I need to do the reps on the range.

“I had it in spurts this week. I hit it really well, and then I’d lose it and get it back.

“But I am absolutely encouraged. I mean, this is my first tournament since, what, April? So it’s been awhile.

Woods conceded he was not tournament sharp.

“It’s nice for me to get out there in this competitive atmosphere no matter how I was playing just to figure out how to score, because I haven’t been forced to score,” he said.

“At home, playing money games with my buddies is just not the same. Being out here and being forced to have to post a score, hit shots, that’s a different deal.”

Next up is the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, which starts on Thursday. His biggest obstacle now is time.

“I’ve got three days,” Woods said. “So I’m going to worry about these three days and apply it accordingly, and be ready come Thursday.”

Justin Rose and Simon Dyson finished one ahead of Woods after closing strongly with rounds of 67 and 68 respectively. Tiger could take comfort from some of the players he beat in his first event for 12 weeks.

They included great rival Phil Mickelson after he double-bogeyed the last for a 72 and three over aggregate, while Paul Casey was two over, Padraig Harrington six over, Graeme McDowell nine over and both Open champion Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter 12 over.