Scott repels Kiwi to break drought
Kiwi golfer Michael Hendry has had to settle for second at the Australian PGA Championship, relinquishing a late lead to finish two shots behind winner Adam Scott.
Scott emerged from a crowded list of contenders to win his second Aussie PGA title – his first win anywhere in almost four years.
The former world No 1 carded a closing three-under par 69 at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast yesterday to follow rounds of 70, 67 and 69 to win at 13-under, finishing two strokes clear of Hendry (69), who led by a shot with six holes to play but finished his tournament with successive bogeys.
Seven players were within two of the lead on the back nine, before overnight leader Scott nailed a birdie at the 14th and an eagle at the 15th to set up his victory.
Scott enjoyed a three-shot lead on the 18th tee and, like playing partners Nick Flanagan and Wade Ormsby, who dropped into a five-way tie for third, he had to settle for a three-putt bogey as he clinched another Australian PGA title to go with his 2013 success.
It was the 39-year-old’s 30th victory worldwide but his first since he won the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship back to back in the US in early 2016.
‘‘I am stoked with this. It has been a long time coming,’’ Scott said.
Nursing sore ribs, Hendry battled through the pain to make up the two-shot advantage Scott held on Saturday night and led by one at the turn. Both men missed a series of birdie putts as left-field contenders gathered just below them and Flanagan briefly shared the lead at 12-under.
Flanagan faltered though while Scott saved par at the 12th, despite hitting his drive deep into tree roots and taking a drop.
A fine approach to the 14th gave him birdie to draw level and a better one on the 15th meant an eagle as Hendry, one group ahead, trod water and then dropped shots on the last two holes.
Scott found himself in a gully behind the green on the 17th but bravely putted up the slope for a tap-in par that allowed some breathing space on the final hole.
Denzel Ieremia (tied 10th) was the next best of the 16-strong Kiwi contingent, ahead of Josh Geary and Ryan Fox (both tied 27th).