The Hindu : Scott authors fabulous finish

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004

Sport

Sport - Golf

Scott authors fabulous finish

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, MARCH 29. Adam Scott thought he was safe when his ball crossed the murky lagoon and landed safely on the 17th green, the infamous island hole that all the players fear at The Players Championship.

He should have known better.

There's water in more than one place on the Stadium Course, and Scott found it on the 18th hole, turning what should have been a coronation on the final hole on Sunday into a knee-knocker. The 23-year-old Aussie needed a super chip and a 10-foot putt to save bogey, avoid a playoff with Padraig Harrington and become the youngest winner at one of the toughest tournaments in golf.

``I just didn't let myself think about anything else but making the putt,'' Scott said.

He made it, and thus closed out one of the most fantastic finishes in the 31-year history of the tournament considered golf's fifth major.

Scott closed with a 2-under-par 70 to finish at 12 under for the tournament. He earned a PGA Tour-record pay check of $1.4 million. During the awards ceremony, Tour commissioner Tim Finchem handed Scott the crystal trophy and applauded him for the unexpected drama: ``You gave us the excitement we needed.''

Scott simply shrugged his shoulders, a wry smile crossing his face. Clearly, it wasn't the ending he had planned.

``I was thinking easy birdie on 16 and come in,'' he said. ``It's that kind of place, where funny things can happen.''

Harrington tied the nine-hole course record, playing the back in 30 to close a round of 66. Holding at 11 under, he stayed loose on the driving range, knowing he needed Scott to falter to get into the playoff. He said he gauged Scott's shots on No. 18 by the way the crowd reacted.

Harrington heard a collective groan when the Aussie plunked his second shot into the water running down the left side of the hole. But on the putt: ``It sounded like it went in,'' Harrington said.

When it did, Scott pumped his fist, then took off his cap and spiked it to the ground. He breathed the ultimate sigh of relief after avoiding a nearly unfathomable collapse. The putt, he said, was a straight-on 10-footer. ``It was going to be my fault if I missed it,'' he said.

He got it that close thanks in part to a chipping lesson he took earlier in the week from his Aussie idol, Greg Norman.

``I think it's pretty cool, and I think I definitely owe Greg a beer,'' Scott said. He hit three great chips over the last four holes.

Kenny Perry (71), with his 18-year-old son on the bag, tied for third place with Frank Lickliter (72) and Phil Mickelson (71).

John Daly shot 10 over and finished 78th, but the 1-2 finish by Scott and Harrington helped Daly stay in the top 10 in the money list, qualifying him for the Masters.

``I live to play in the Masters, like most of the guys out here,'' Daly said. ``I haven't been there too often in recent years, so it's a thrill for me to be going back.'' — AP

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