Bryant win provides Cinderella finish to season
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-07 10:00

DROPPED SHOTS

Goosen began steadily with six successive pars but then dropped six shots over the next eight holes to plummet down the leaderboard.

Any thoughts that Bryant might succumb to last-day jitters were soon dismissed when he birdied three of the first four holes to stretch his overnight advantage to six shots over Goosen.

Although he suffered a wobble with bogeys on five and six, Bryant steadied himself with solid pars on seven and eight before picking up his fourth shot of the day at the par-five ninth.

Neither Goosen nor U.S. Masters and British Open champion Woods were able to capitalize on Bryant's stutter.

Bryant carried his momentum into East Lake's closing stretch with birdies on 11 and 12, effectively putting the title well beyond the reach of Woods and Goosen.

"Last night I was lying in bed and I pictured myself going out and getting off to a really hot start," said Bryant who will turn 43 on November 18.

"I saw myself birdieing one and three and another hole on the front nine and luckily that's what happened. I went out and got off to a hot start."