Scott captures Riviera title as McIlroy falls 3 shots behind
Triple-bogey thwarts McIlory’s challenge
LOS ANGELES: Fifteen years after his first victory at Riviera, Adam Scott won the Genesis Invitational on Sunday, and this time his victory is official.
The Australian, a former Masters champion, overcame an early doublebogey to shoot a one-under-par 70 and triumph by two shots over South Korean Kang Sung and Americans Matt Kuchar and Scott Brown.
Rory McIlroy, who started the final round tied for the lead with Scott and Kuchar, was not a factor after a triple-bogey at the same fifth hole that Scott bungled.
McIlroy tied for fifth, three shots behind Scott, while tournament host Tiger Woods finished last among those who made the cut, a whopping 22 strokes behind at a tournament he has never won.
“I did not do much well today,” said Woods.
The victory was extra special for former world No.1 Scott, who had not triumphed on the PGA Tour for nearly four years as he tried to juggle his career with becoming a father of two.
“Everyone tells me I’m turning 40 this year. I don’t know if they’re insinuating that’s the beginning of the end,” he said.
“I’m lucky at the moment. I’m very healthy as far as a golfing 39-yearold goes.
“My career is in a good spot I guess. Even before winning this week, I feel physically and somewhat mentally I’m OK after 20 years out here.”
“This is an important step for whatever this next few years is in my career. It can definitely be used for momentum.”
Scott all but clinched victory when he sank a 10-foot birdie at the penultimate hole, and he parred the last to finish at 11-under 273 for his 14th official PGA Tour victory, a total that includes the 2013 Masters at Augusta National.
The total does not include his 36-hole result at Riviera in 2005, which was deemed unofficial after rain cut the tournament in half, although he still has the trophy at home.
Scott has also won 14 times internationally, including the Australian PGA Championship in December.
Riviera was his first event of 2020, and one he hopes will provide a launchpad to add to his single major championship before Father Time catches up.
“This has to be my year,” he said. “I can’t afford to let the next 10 years slip away. I have to make it happen now.
“It’s only going to get harder. The big goal now is to be a multiple major winner and I think the habit of winning is good for that.”
Mcilroy 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.”
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES
(par-71, USA unless noted)
273 — Adam Scott (AUS) 72-64-67-70
275 — Kang Sung (KOR) 69-67-70-69, Scott Brown 71-68-68-68, Matt Kuchar 64-69-70-72
276 — Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-72-64-69, Bryson DeChambeau 68-70-69-69, Max Homa 72-69-6570, Joel Dahmen 68-71-66-71, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 68-67-68-73
277 — Chez Reavie 69-68-71-69, Dustin Johnson 72-66-67-72, Talor Gooch 70-72-64-71