Young American Jordan Spieth dominated the final round to win the Australian Open by six shots yesterday and leave world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and third-ranked Adam Scott in his wake.
Spieth carded a sizzling course record of eight-under-63 to finish the A$1.25 million (US$1.06 million) OneAsia co-sanctioned tournament at 13-under-par 271.
It was 21-year-old Texan’s second career tournament win and his first since last year’s triumph at the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
Spieth was runner-up at the Masters in April behind fellow American Bubba Watson, just missing out on being the first Masters rookie to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
Spieth took a grip on the final round with three consecutive birdies from the fifth to the seventh holes to go nine under and led overnight coleader Brett Rumford by three at the turn.
He had few problems holding on to his advantage in the homeward nine with four more birdies in his closing five holes to post his best tournament victory.
With his comprehensive victory, Spieth’s world ranking is expected to climb from 14 to 11.
Australian Rod Pampling finished second at seven-under-par 277, with Brett Rumford third on six-under-par 278 and Greg Chalmers in fourth on five-under-par 279.
Scott lost momentum with a double-bogey seven at the fifth hole to drop back to 2-under-par and could make little headway on the tearaway leader to finish fifth with four-under-par 280.
The world No. 3 had to take a penalty drop for an unplayable lie after blocking his tee shot into rough and then hooked his next shot back into the trees on the left.
He speared through a narrow opening, but was unable to get up and down, the double-bogey leaving Scott five behind Spieth at that stage.
Defending champion McIlroy, who beat Scott with a birdie at the final hole at Royal Sydney last year, struggled with the course and the windy conditions and failed to make a final round charge, finishing joint 15th, 15 strokes behind Spieth.
The Northern Irishman had a total of 15 birdies, an eagle, 14 bogeys, one double bogey and a disastrous triple bogey this week at the Open.
Only eight players finished under par over the 72 holes at the demanding Jack Nicklaus designed course.
Spieth joins past winners of the Stonehaven Cup such as greats Nicklaus, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Peter Thomson.
He is the first American since Brad Faxon in 1993 to win the Australian Open.
Last year Spieth won the John Deere Classic at age 19, becoming the first teen winner of a USPGA Tour event since 1931.
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