Superb Scott comeback secures Cadillac
Adam won for a second straight week in Florida and moved to World No. 6
Adam Scott bounced back from two double bogeys to win the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral. It was his second victory in as many weeks.
Adam Scott, who won last week in The Honda Classic started the final day at Trump National Doral three behind 54-hole leader Rory McIlroy and looked to have played himself out of the running with two double bogeys in his first five holes.
But the Australian bounced back with six birdies in his last nine holes to move to the top of the board. With a number of players in contention down the stretch, Scott held on to keep the pack at bay.
One stroke ahead of Bubba Watson with only the treacherous 18th to play, Scott pushed his drive to the right. Slightly hampered by a tree he had to aim out over the water to the left of the green and attempt to fade it back. The ball didn’t move as much as he wanted and it hit the bank to the left side of the putting surface. Somehow it clung on to the slope, but the Australian was left with a very difficult pitch. His ball was in the hazard and well below his feet.
Banishing thoughts of a shanked bunker shot on the 16th, one he did well to save par after, Scott played a brilliant floating chip that landed softly and left him a seven-foot putt for the victory. Proving, once again, that he has mastered the short putter he knocked it in and took the victory.
"I can't believe I've won back-to-back weeks," Scott said. "To win a World Golf Championship is huge again."
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4 Talking points from The WGC-Cadillac Championship
1 – This is the first time since Billy Horschel managed it in 2014 that a player has won on consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour. Following the brilliant Scott comeback at Doral, the Australian has moved to number six on the Official World Golf Ranking. He was aware he had been a little fortunate on the final hole. “That’s winner’s luck, really,” Scott said. “Those things even out over a long period of time where at some point, I would have hit that shot and it's bounced back in and you don't win, and other times it stays up and you do. To take advantage of it feels really good.”
2 – Rory McIlroy couldn’t get it going on Sunday. He had stated before the round that he didn’t want to play defensively, but that’s how he began on the final day and he couldn’t shift up a gear when he found himself trailing. He didn’t make a birdie until the 16th hole and, in the end, had to battle to secure a tie for third place. Despite the disappointment of not closing out the victory, McIlroy could console himself with the fact he has moved back up to Number 2 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Rory McIlroy swing sequence:
3 – Bubba Watson looked the strongest player for much of the final round, but the two-time Masters champion came up just one shot shy. Bubba could have forced a playoff had he made a short birdie putt on the 16th. Although he putted superbly well most of the day, he made a poor stroke at the short par-4 and it cost him. Still, the left-hander looks to be on excellent form heading towards The Masters. “I have a lot of confidence going towards Augusta,” he said. “But it’s still a long way away.”
4 – It was a good week for Danny Willett. He challenged in the final round and played some fine golf. He’s becoming something of a World Golf Championship specialist. This is the third time he’s finished in the top-three in the last four instalments.
WGC-Cadillac Championship Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida Mar 3-6 Purse $9,500,000, par 72
1 Adam Scott (Aus) 68 66 73 69 276 $1,620,000 2 Bubba Watson (USA) 69 69 71 68 277 $1,018,000 T3 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 65 68 74 278 $483,000 T3 Danny Willett (Eng) 68 69 72 69 278 $483,000 5 Phil Mickelson (USA) 67 72 70 70 279 $342,000 6 Jimmy Walker (USA) 69 72 73 66 280 $280,000 7 Paul Casey (Eng) 71 68 75 68 282 $240,000 T8 Rickie Fowler (USA) 70 71 71 71 283 $197,500 T8 Smylie Kaufman (USA) 71 70 71 71 283 $197,500 10 Harris English (USA) 71 70 71 72 284 $165,000
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
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