Adam Scott maintained ice-cool composure over the tough closing stretch at the Honda Classic to end a title drought of nearly two years on Sunday, clinching his 12th PGA Tour victory by one shot at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
The Australian world No. 13 outdueled his Spanish playing competitor Sergio Garcia as he carded a level-par 70 in the final round in blustery conditions on the challenging PGA National layout.
Tied for the lead with Garcia with eight holes to play, Scott played steadier golf down the stretch to post a nine-under total of 271 as the Spaniard’s game unraveled.
Photo: AFP
“I got off to a good start, made one [for birdie] on the first and that definitely relaxed me,” Scott, 35, told NBC Sports after winning his first tournament since the PGA Tour’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in May of 2014.
“I hit a lot of good putts. Some did not go in, fortunately it was enough in the end. It is hard to get it close all the time, but it was nice to hit some quality shots coming in,” said the Australian, who made his third and final birdie of the day at the 12th after hitting a superb 150-yard approach from a fairway bunker to just two feet.
Scott’s 12th PGA Tour victory put him one ahead of Rory McIlroy at the top of the list of most wins recorded by current tour players 40 years old or younger.
Garcia, 36, who had been bidding for a ninth PGA Tour title, had to settle for second place after bogeying the 16th and 17th holes, before rebounding with a birdie at the last for a 71.
“It was tough,” said the Spaniard, who had been tied for the lead with Scott after the third round, but failed to make early inroads on Sunday as he parred the first 10 holes. Blayne Barber, a rookie on the PGA Tour last season, closed with a 70 to tie for third at five-under with fellow American Justin Thomas (69).
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