Scott wins Genesis
… as Tigers stumbles with a smile
ADAM SCOTT fired a 1-under 70 yesterday to win the Genesis Invitational, and this time the Australian’s victory at Riviera Country Club is official. On a challenging day that saw world No. 1 Rory McIlroy card a 2-over 73 and tournament host Tiger Woods stumble to a 6-over 77, Scott countered two bogeys and a double-bogey with five birdies to build an 11-under total of 273.
He finished two strokes in front of South Korea’s Kang Sung (69) and Americans Scott Brown (68) and Matt Kuchar (72).
“It’s incredibly satisfying to win a tournament of this stature on a golf course of this stature – even better to come out on top and have your game really tested. It was not easy,” Scott said.
McIlroy, who started the day tied for the lead with Scott and Kuchar, said: “Definitely the toughest day of the week. The wind was up, hole locations were sort of tricky spots, the course was firming up again. Everyone was finding it tough out there.”
Woods’ game may have deserted him but the former world No. 1 did not lose his sense of humour.
When asked to assess his form after finishing 22 strokes behind Scott, Woods said: “The good news, I hit every ball forward, not backwards, a couple sidebars,” he joked to reporters.
The 44-year-old, who had spinal fusion surgery nearly three years ago, appeared to be moving gingerly on Friday and acknowledged on Sunday that he had not been feeling great earlier in the tournament.
He said that even when things were not going his way he had to remember to look at the big picture.
“But I also look at it from a perspective which I didn’t do most of my career, that I’m going to have a chance to play going down the road,” he. “A few years ago that wasn’t the case.”
Ever the competitor, he added: “I’m still a little ticked.” – AFP/Reuters