firestone

Jilted caddie snubs Tiger -- then helps bag Firestone lead.

Tiger Woods is feeling much better about his game than he did a few days ago. He arrived at this week's PGA Championship fresh off the worst tournament of his career.

He beat only one player in the 80-man field at Firestone, shooting a whopping 18-over 298. Both Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker have a chance to take the world No.

Tiger Woods has never looked worse. As he has done so often on Sunday at Firestone, he doffed his cap as he walked up to the 18th green.

Only this time, the world's No. 1 player wore a look of resignation. He missed yet another putt and finished with a 77 to complete the highest 72-hole score of his career.

Just about any other tournament, Tiger Woods would be on his way home after missing the cut. There is no cut in the Bridgestone Invitational, although Woods left immediately Friday after spraying shots around Firestone for a 2-over 72 that left him at the bottom of the pack in this World Golf Championship.

Paul Casey of England, the world's No. 3 player, withdrew from the PGA Championship because of a rib injury.

Casey, a three-time winner this year on the PGA and European tours, first injured strained the rib muscle a week before the British Open.

He has tried to let it heal with rest and treatment, but had to withdraw early in the first round a week ago at Firestone.

Tiger Woods has said he was not fined by the PGA Tour for his critical remarks about a rules official putting the last group on the clock at Firestone.

A PGA Tour official told The Associated Press on Monday that the world's No. 1 player would be fined for his comment.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because the tour does not publicize fines.

A stunning turn of events on Firestone's famous 16th hole took Tiger Woods from one shot back to a four-shot victory at the Bridgestone Invitational.

Next stop: The PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods was too much. Again. Woods won for the second straight week, outlasting Padraig Harrington at the WGC-Bridgestone and building momentum before next week's PGA.