Win-Na’s PGA dramas
ADAM Scott’s planned charge turned into an ugly retreat but young countryman Jack Trent showed he’s a player to watch after an impressive US PGA Tour debut.
Former world No.1 Scott went into the final round of the Las Vegas tournament aiming to go low as he attempted to end his long title drought.
But a quadruple-bogey eight on the third hole ended any slim hope as he shot a 74, dropping 34 spots to be tied 42nd, a distant 11 strokes from winner Kevin Na who had his own final day dramas.
Na (70) coughed up a fourshot lead on the back nine (70) and tied fellow American Patrick Cantlay (68) at 23-under 261 before prevailing with a four-foot par putt at the second extra hole as Cantlay threeputted for bogey. Cameron Smith surged home with a 65 to be the leading Australian, tied 13th at 17 under.
But 20-year-old Trent produced the most eye-catching performance by an Aussie in the tournament.
The laidback Queenslander is a college player for University of Las Vegas and he played a pre-event practice round with Scott, who also attended the university on scholarship.
The amateur followed rounds of 67, 69, 66, and a 68 to finish tied 29th at 14 under and would have come joint 16th if he had not double-bogeyed the last hole. He finished in a group including Australian Matt Jones (70), while Aaron Baddeley (70) was a further shot back. Na’s final-round cushion evaporated thanks to a triple-bogey at the 10th hole and a bogey at the par-five 16th after he hit his second shot into a pond.
“I hit a really bad tee shot, got unlucky and made a triple. All of a sudden I felt like I was the underdog but I’m a fighter,” said Na after claiming his fourth tour title. “Patrick is a great player and to be able to beat him down the stretch felt great. I’ve lost three playoffs. This is my first playoff win. I kept telling myself, ‘this is a playoff I’m going to win’.” AP