Adam Scott wins in US

[Donny]

Scott's first US title
From correspondents in Boston
September 2, 2003

ADAM SCOTT coasted to his first US PGA Tour victory today, winning the inaugural Deutsche Bank Championship by four strokes.

A 23-year-old Australian, whose swing is almost identical to Tiger Woods, fired a five-under-par 66 to become the youngest winner on tour since Sergio Garcia captured last year's Mercedes Championship at 21.

Scott also joined Woods as players who claimed their first PGA wins while playing on sponsor's exemptions.

After four rounds in the 60s, Scott had a 72-hole total of 20-under 264 and claimed the $1.4 million top prize, becoming the second straight member of the European Tour to win on the PGA Tour. Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke took last week's NEC Invitational.

Scott earned a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, although he is expected to continue playing a full schedule in Europe.

PGA veteran Rocco Mediate claimed sole possession of second place with a 65 that left him at 16-under 268.

Justin Rose of England, Scott's best friend on the tour - also playing on a sponsor's exemption - was alone in third at 15-under 269 after a final-round 67.

"Now it seems easy," said Scott. "I was grinding really hard out there."

Scott led by at least three shots throughout a rainy afternoon on the TPC of Boston, and a birdie on the final hole clinched the win.

"He's as good as you can get," Mediate said. "At his age ... we've got our hands full."

Scott's record is nothing like Tiger's, who is 28-2 on the PGA Tour when he has at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

The swing, however, is eerily similar, and it carried Scott to a dominant performance over the last three rounds that left everyone else playing for second.

Mediate did his best to make a charge with four birdies in five holes around the turn, and he closed with a six-under 65. All that got him was second place.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy shot a final-round 69 to finish tied for fifth at 13-under for the tournament, with John Senden in a tie for 13th at seven-under.

Woods never had a chance in the tournament that benefits his foundation.

He birdied his first three holes to get within five strokes of the lead, and consecutive birdies to start the back nine moved him into a tie for third.

But a double bogey on No.12 derailed any hopes of getting closer to Scott, and Woods had to settle for two birdies at the end for a 67. He finished at 273, tied for seventh.

Scott didn't waste any time eliminating the drama.

Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, he never let anyone get closer, starting with a simple up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 second hole. He stretched his lead to six shots with a pitch into 10 feet for birdie on seven, then had to hold on.

Mediate chipped in for birdie from about 30 feet on No.7, starting a stretch of four birdies in five holes that brought him within three shots of the lead.

Two groups behind, Scott looked as though he might fold.

He missed the green badly to the right on No.11 for his first bogey of the final round, and when he let the driver fall loosely from his hands after a poor drive on 12, it appeared as though nerves were getting the best of him.

He came up 70 feet short of the cup and lagged to eight feet.

"Another mistake there could have been crucial," said Scott. "I got away with it. My putter saved me on the back nine."

He holed the par putt, and the tournament effectively ended on the next hole.

Mediate hit his approach into five feet on the 14th, while Scott hit into a hill of shaggy rough to the right of the 13th green and chipped to 10 feet.

A two-shot swing appeared imminent, with all the momentum going Mediate's way. But he badly missed the birdie putt, Scott poured his in for par, and the young Aussie wrapped it up with a six-foot birdie on 15.

Scott is considered one of the elite young players, although his best golf has been played overseas – victories in Qatar and Sweden, Scotland and South Africa.

Before a packed gallery an hour south of Boston, he rose to the occasion.

Greg Norman finished tied for 20th at five-under with fellow Australians Paul Gow and Peter Lonard, a shot behind Robert Allenby.

"He's blossomed into quite a player," Norman said of Scott.

Leading final scores (US unless noted):

264 – Adam Scott (AUS) 69-62-67-66

268 – Rocco Mediate 67-70-66-65

269 – Justin Rose (GBR) 63-71-68-67

270 – Vijay Singh (FIJ) 65-68-71-66

271 – Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 68-66-68-69, Tim Herron 67-68-68-68

[pies4ever]

thats great to hear an australian win a golf tournament instead of yanks for a change,hope he follows up with more tour victories during the year.


cheers bryan..!!

[i_luv_tarkyn!]

OMG THATS AWESOME NEWS!
im watching the highlights now and he is in great form and handled the pressure excellently.
what a star he is
im so happy

luv jess