Monday 29 February 2016

Golf:Adam Scott claims Honda Classic victory ahead of Sergio Garcia


Adam Scott edged through a final day battle with Sergio Garcia to claim a one-shot victory at the Honda Classic.

Last week's Northern Trust Open runner-up mixed three birdies with as many bogeys during a topsy-turvy final round 70 at PGA National, sealing a first PGA Tour victory in nearly two years with a close-range par putt at the last.

Playing alongside Garcia for the second day running, Scott seized the early initiative by sinking a 15-foot gain at the first and doubled his advantage with a birdie-two at the short fifth.

The Australian saw his lead drop back to one after failing to get up and down from the greenside bunker at the ninth, before a wayward drive and a poor chip at the next saw the former world No 1 post a second successive bogey and slip back joint-top of the leaderboard.

A run of 10 consecutive pars came to an end for Garcia when he missed a two-foot putt at the 11th, as Scott regained his two stroke cushion with a superb approach from the bunker and a kick-in birdie at the next.

The Spaniard responded by carding a first gain of the day at the 14th, but gave his shot back when his second shot in to the par-four 16th landed short of the green.

A three-putt bogey from 40 feet by Scott at the same hole briefly handed Justin Thomas a lifeline two strokes back, but a double-bogey at the par-three 17th ended his hopes of victory.

Garcia posted back-to-back dropped shots when he found the rough off the penultimate tee and couldn't save par from 13 feet, as Scott tapped-in for a three to extend his cushion heading to the last.

With Scott deciding to lay-up at the par-five 18th, Garcia attempted to find the green in two but ended up firing his approach in to the spectators.

Although Garcia pitched to 15 feet and trickled in a late gain to close a one-over 71, Scott was able to seal victory and secure a place back in the world's top 10 by nudging in a three-footer.

"I fought hard and I thought I stayed calm," Garcia said. "I gave it my all, but hit a couple of bad shots on a couple of difficult holes and it wasn't good enough.

"I think he deserved it. I don't feel like my swing was anywhere near where I wanted it to be but I scored nicely.

"I putted well and chipped well but he played great. He played better than me at the end of the day, it's as simple as that."

Thomas carded a one-under 69 to end the week tied-third alongside Blayne Barber, with Graeme McDowell a further stroke back.

Vijay Singh recovered from dropping three shots in a three-hole stretch along the back nine to post his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour since 2013, as one-time leader Rickie Fowler ended a frustrating final round with a one-over 71.

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