Scott squashes demons to triumph
Source: Agencies |
November 16, 2010, Tuesday
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ADAM Scott's inner demons did their best to derail his bid for a third Singapore Open title yesterday but the Australian held his nerve to claim victory at the US$6 million weather-hit event.
Scott, a winner in Singapore in 2005 and 2006, sealed a three-shot victory over Denmark's Anders Hansen with a sublime 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a closing 3-under 68 at the Sentosa Golf Club.
However, not all of the Serapong course's tricky greens had been as accommodating.
"I haven't been putting my best lately and the demons started creeping in a little bit on the back nine," said the 30-year-old.
"But fortunately I squashed them and made a good putt on 15. That gave me a little buffer and calmed me down for the last three."
Scott held a three-shot lead when the fourth round was suspended due to darkness on Sunday. Play had been suspended for 5-1/2 hours due to thunderstorms and lightning.
Coming back to finish 10 holes yesterday was not ideal, Scott said, and when his touch with the putter started to desert him he began to worry. A three-putt bogey on the 14th rattled him.
"It was my second three-putt on the back-nine and at that point, I had no idea of what the scores were on the leaderboard," he said.
"The 15th was a huge hole. I hit the ball beautifully and I hit every shot where I needed it to be."
Scott reached a career-high third in the world rankings in 2007 but his form dipped last year. He believes he is now returning to his best.
Hansen shot 68 to finish second, and Sweden's Rikard Karlberg (67) and US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (70) were tied for third, four shots behind Scott.
Defending champion Ian Poulter and South Korea's Kang Kyung-nam trailed Scott by a stroke after three rounds, but both fell off the pace in the final round. Kang finished fifth after a 72 and Briton Poulter had a 73 to finish tied for sixth with James Donaldson of Wales (70).
US Masters champion Phil Mickelson had a final-round 70 to finish on 3-under. His score included a 2-stroke penalty for showing up late at the course from his hotel for the resumption of play on Sunday afternoon.
Scott, a winner in Singapore in 2005 and 2006, sealed a three-shot victory over Denmark's Anders Hansen with a sublime 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a closing 3-under 68 at the Sentosa Golf Club.
However, not all of the Serapong course's tricky greens had been as accommodating.
"I haven't been putting my best lately and the demons started creeping in a little bit on the back nine," said the 30-year-old.
"But fortunately I squashed them and made a good putt on 15. That gave me a little buffer and calmed me down for the last three."
Scott held a three-shot lead when the fourth round was suspended due to darkness on Sunday. Play had been suspended for 5-1/2 hours due to thunderstorms and lightning.
Coming back to finish 10 holes yesterday was not ideal, Scott said, and when his touch with the putter started to desert him he began to worry. A three-putt bogey on the 14th rattled him.
"It was my second three-putt on the back-nine and at that point, I had no idea of what the scores were on the leaderboard," he said.
"The 15th was a huge hole. I hit the ball beautifully and I hit every shot where I needed it to be."
Scott reached a career-high third in the world rankings in 2007 but his form dipped last year. He believes he is now returning to his best.
Hansen shot 68 to finish second, and Sweden's Rikard Karlberg (67) and US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (70) were tied for third, four shots behind Scott.
Defending champion Ian Poulter and South Korea's Kang Kyung-nam trailed Scott by a stroke after three rounds, but both fell off the pace in the final round. Kang finished fifth after a 72 and Briton Poulter had a 73 to finish tied for sixth with James Donaldson of Wales (70).
US Masters champion Phil Mickelson had a final-round 70 to finish on 3-under. His score included a 2-stroke penalty for showing up late at the course from his hotel for the resumption of play on Sunday afternoon.
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