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November 15, 2010

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Appleby stuns field for Melbourne title

AN unflustered Stuart Appleby overtook the faltering Adam Bland and Daniel Gaunt to upstage champion Tiger Woods and win the Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne by one shot yesterday.

The 39-year-old Appleby shot a 6-under 65, which included 30-foot putts on the 16th hole to save par and 17th to make a birdie, to record a 10-under 274 and hold off overnight leader Bland (73) and Gaunt (71).

Woods, who was paid a reported US$3 million appearance fee, finished fourth after he shot a 65 to end on 7-under 277.

Appleby, who had started seven shots behind Bland, clawed his way into contention with six birdies, including one on the final hole to give himself a two-shot cushion to ensure he snatched the A$270,000 (US$266,000) winner's purse.

"I was pretty comfortable, I liked the way my game matured this week," the gold-jacket wearing Appleby said of his final round. "I was just trying to keep moving forward and applying pressure and see what happens."

The 34-year-old Woods had started the day 10 shots behind Bland, before a scintillating finish in which he snared an eagle two at the par-4 15th, a birdie on the par-5 17th and an eagle three on the par-5 18th.

The American's fourth-place ensures he will end the year without a title for the first time since he turned professional in 1996. He has not won a title since claiming the gold jacket at nearby Kingston Heath a year ago.

In Singapore, Adam Scott has a three-stroke lead after eight holes of the suspended final round of the Singapore Open that will now be completed today after a 5 1/2-hour thunderstorm delay yesterday.

Scott, a two-time champion at Sentosa Golf Club, was 3-under in his final round and 17-under for the tournament after leading by one stroke after Saturday's third round.

Defending champion Ian Poulter of England was in second place, also after eight holes, with South Korean Kang Kyung-nam a further stroke back after eight.

US Masters champion Phil Mickelson had completed 13 holes and was 4-under overall and 2-under in his final round. He was hit with a two-shot penalty after he was late for the resumption of the last round following the rain delay.


 

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