Adam Scott ended a 21-month drought by winning the Honda Classic in Florida this morning by a shot over Sergio Garcia.
Scott’s last success was May 2014 at the Colonial when he was world number one.
The win jumped Scott up 13 places on the FedExCup standings to third behind Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Kisner.
In what was virtually match-play with no-one else in contention, both Scott and Garcia had their moments.
Scott birdied the first, shaved the hole to miss a birdie at the second, birdied the fifth and missed three other birdies by millimetres to lead by two.
Garcia, on the other hand, had to regularly sink six to 10 foot putts to save par, just to keep in touch.
When Scott bogeyed the ninth and 10th, they shared nine-under.
But the homeward nine sorted them out.
Garcia bogeyed 11, Scott birdied 12, and the gap was again two.
When they hit the Bear Trap on holes 15-17, Scott could be forgiven for having rubbery knees.
In his career at the Honda, Scott was 17-under for holes 1-14, but 22-over at the Bear Trap.
Yesterday. when he was leading by three, Scott piled on a quadruple bogey seven by visiting the water twice off the 15th tee.
But all was well today with Scott finishing even par 70, while Garcia shot 71, giving the Australian his 12th win on he USPGA tour, the most by any golfer under 40.
After finishing in a tie for second last week at Riviera, Scott is heating up in time for the Masters, which will be played in five weeks at Augusta. This win moves him into the top ten in the world, and gets that winning feeling back in his body.
How his fellow Aussie in the top ten, Jason Day, is going will be revealed when he returns to competition next week to start his lead-up to the biggest dance in golf.
It’s early, but the signs are promising for an assault on Augusta.
The final Honda Classic leaderboard:
9-under – Adam Scott – 70 65 66 70
8-under – Sergio Garcia – 65 69 67 71
5-under – Blayne Barber – 70 66 69 70
Justin Thomas – 69 69 68 69
4-under – Graeme McDowell – 71 69 67 69
Fox Molder
Guest
Mainly because he doesn't need the money unlike most of the other hacks chopping it around on the seniors tour. Norman makes more $ by not playing.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Yup. While he still gets the yips from 4-6 feet, he's doing plenty right to make the amount of birdies he is.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Although Augusta is a totally different test, what this win does is put to bed any lingering doubt and chatter about Scott's transition from the long putter. You simply don't win tournaments at this level without being able to get the job done on the greens.
Punter
Guest
Great win, he was awesome this weekend, needs to erase some of his bad holes & putt more consistently. This was one tough golf course.
Jason Cave
Guest
If there's one thing I'd like to see (apart from Adam Scott winning his second green jacket), it's Greg Norman making a comeback on the Champions Tour. Wonder why Norman isn't playing on the Seniors circuit.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Excellent win by Scotty, set up by two supreme rounds of golf in the guts of the tournament, and a steady one to finish. Agree with Johnty, Scotty's the form ballstriker on Tour right now.
Johnty
Guest
Very promising for Augusta. You'd have to think Day will win a masters eventually but nobody is hitting it better than Scotty at the moment.