Adam Scott claims drought-breaking Australian PGA title at Royal Pines
Hometown hero Adam Scott overcame a bad case of final round yips at Royal Pines to claim his second Australian PGA crown and his first title in over three years.
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Adam Scott confessed to thinking he may never win another tournament in golf’s arms race against younger rivals after his drought-busting Australian PGA triumph.
The former world No.1’s first victory in three years, nine months and 16 days was hardly stress-free because he left it to the final nine holes of the year to keep a promise to four-year-old daughter Bo.
“That’ll be fun because she’s asked all year for a trophy and I’ve not been able to deliver,” Scott said through a broad smile.
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The Joe Kirkwood Cup might have had milk or orange juice in it for a brief moment for his two kids after his 69 to win by two shots at Royal Pines but not for long.
“It’s bedtime soon,” Scott said in rehearsal for the adult celebrations to begin.
Scott’s fairway to heaven was again the par five 15th where a supreme second shot five iron to inside three metres created an eagle and a two-shot buffer.
Remarkably, he is now 19-under-par for his 18 visits to the 517m hole since 2013 when he first won the PGA in his home state.
Scott (70-67-69-69) finished at 13-under-par to out-duel plucky Kiwi Michael Hendry who took the lead mid-round in his 69 which was testament to playing so well with a rib-back injury.
“Give it a kiss†roars the crowd. Adam Scott shoots 69 to win 🆠#AusPGA â›³ï¸ First title in 3 years @PGAofAustralia @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/sZRnU5ZQ00
— Jim Tucker (@HulaBulaJim) December 22, 2019
The Moment! Congratulations @AdamScott for a remarkable performance across the 2019 Australian PGA Championship!#AusPGA #PGATA pic.twitter.com/diesIPGeW4
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) December 22, 2019
Victorious again Down Under ðŸ†
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 22, 2019
Adam Scott captures the 2019 #AusPGA! pic.twitter.com/W6Sh1JVdtC
It’s taken nearly 4 years but Adam Scott has won again. Brilliant stuff #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/E2Vgik27ap
— Brent Read (@brentread_7) December 22, 2019
A victory in Florida in the early part of the US PGA tour three years, nine months and 16 days ago was the last time that he lifted a trophy.
His eagle on the 15th was emphatic as he followed a booming drive with a pinpoint accurate approach and made no mistake with the broomstick putter.
A remarkable up-and-down on the 17th when he used the putter from off the green all but sealed the victory in his home event.
Scott won the Australian PGA at Royal Pines in 2013 after his US Masters triumph and plans to use this victory as a springboard to another green jacket at August National.
Hendry led for most of the back nine but his approach to the 17th green clipped trees to leave his ball plugged in the bunker.
Scott’s 30th tournament win of his career was sweet but, at 39, a jolting mortality had flashed into his mind since his back-to-back wins in Florida in early 2016.
“It’s been a long time between drinks and maybe once or twice the thought did cross my mind that I’ll never win again,” Scott said.
“I’m on the wrong side of this age thing now where these young guys are really good and I fell short playing some pretty good golf a couple weeks this year.
“Just being all right doesn’t really get it done, you’ve got to be pretty much sensational.”
Scott showed his champion’s class to fight back mid-round after dunking an iron off the tee into the water on the driveable par four eighth. He bogeyed and Hendry was suddenly one in front with his three-birdie roll.
The five iron on the 15th was everything after a super birdie on the tough tilted par three 14th.
“I’m pretty stoked, especially to finish the year off winning at home,” Scott said.
“I kind of grinded it out and feel like I outsmarted the golf course a little bit, which feels good, and it was good enough to beat everyone.”
Rory McIlroy won the British Open and US PGA in 2014 and American Jordan Spieth celebrated a Masters-US Open double in 2015. The successes flowed after wins in the previous Australian summer just as an Australian Masters win in 2012 fed Scott’s own Masters triumph at Augusta in 2013.
“It’s big for the confidence. You win and you feel like you’re never going to lose again so you want to run with it,” Scott said.
“Not only have I seen what a win at the end of 2012 in Australia did for me but I’ve seen Rory win in ‘13 (at the Australian Open) and go on to have an amazing 2014 and Jordan Spieth do the same.”
Kiwi Ryan Fox won the Australasian Order of Merit, with a British Open start as one bonus, but because he already has a European Tour card that was a prize for another.
Young Victorian Zach Murray will be celebrating because he has a full European Tour season ahead as next on the Order of Merit.
Two-time defending champion Cameron Smith (70) birdied the opening hole but a five iron to the tough par three second ran over the back and his challenge stalled with bogey as he finished 10th.
Young gun Cameron Davis, after a fine 67 to finish, was in the five-way tie for third with Min Woo Lee (70), the Perth youngster who started poorly before five birdies on the closing 11 holes again flashed a neon sign over his future.
AUSTRALIAN PGA FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD
275 - Adam Scott 70-67-69-69
277 - Michael Hendry (NZL) 70-68-70-69 278
Cameron Davis 72-70-69-67, Yuan Yechun (CHN) 70-65-73-70, Min Woo Lee 68-72-68-70, Nick Flanagan 72-73-63-70, Wade Ormsby 68-69-70-71
279 - Andrew Dodt 69-72-70-68 280
Kim Min-kyu (KOR) 72-69-72-67 281
Johannes Veerman (USA) 70-71-73-67, Brett Rankin 67-73-72-69, Denzel Ieremia (NZL) 77-67-69-68, Cameron Smith 74-65-72-70, Bryce Easton (RSA) 71-68-71-71
282 - Brett Rumford 72-69-72-69, Travis Smyth 68-72-72-70, Greg Chalmers 74-69-68-71, Nick Cullen 68-73-68-73
283 - Damien Perrier (FRA) 70-72-73-68, Brad Kennedy 71-72-71-69, Anthony Quayle 70-66-75-72
284 - Tom Power Horan 72-66-75-71, Steven Jeffress 71-70-72-71, Stewart Cink (USA) 70-72-71-71, Jamie Arnold 73-72-67-72, Brady Watt 72-70-69-73
285 - Josh Geary (NZL) 73-69-73-70, Matthew Stieger 74-70-70-71, Stephen Allan 70-75-69-71, Ryan Fox (NZL) 69-72-72-72, Cameron Champ (USA) 71-70-71-73, Aaron Cockerill (CAN) 70-71-69-75
Originally published as Adam Scott claims drought-breaking Australian PGA title at Royal Pines