Australia’s Adam Scott has drawn first blood in the lucrative FedEx Cup Play-Off Series in capturing the Barclays Championship in New Jersey.

The reigning Masters champion posted a blistering final round 66 to win by a shot with a 11-under par tally on the Liberty National course.

Scott’s victory, and his first since his Masters triumph, must now put the 33-year old Queenslander well in position for PGA Tour ‘Player of the Year’ despite Tiger Woods finishing in a share of second place on 10-under par.

Adam Scott storms from behind to bank Barclays Championship. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

“I can’t believe it, to be honest,” said Scott who also earned 2,500 FedExCup points, moving to second in the standings behind Woods.

“I just played a good round today and I came in and really didn’t think it had a chance. But obviously, things went my way a lot out there.”

Fellow American and management stablemate, Gary Woodland needed a birdie at the last to tie Scott but could only manage a par in a round of 73 to tie Woods (69), reigning US Open champion, Justin Rose (68) along with Canadian Graham DeLaet (65) all on 10-under par.

Scott’s victory is the only second occasion on PGA Tour he’s won twice in a season after capturing the Players Championship and Booz Allen titles in 2004.

Scott had completed his round some 45 minutes before the leaders and he was tied, at the time, with his good friend Rose.

But Rose  then proceeded to miss a 16-footer for birdie at the 17th hole and then made a three-putt bogey at No. 18, failing to convert from 5 feet for par, to leave Scott alone in the lead.

Next up was Woods, who proved extremely resilient while battling a back issue that forced him to his knees after hitting his approach at the 13th hole. Woods pulled back within a shot of Scott after consecutive birdies at Nos. 16 and 17, but left a tying 27-foot putt from the fringe at the 18th hole about an inch from the hole.

“I had a chance,” said Woods, who leads the FedExCup standings. “… I hit a good putt. I thought I made it. It was a little double-breaker and I thought I had it.”

Scott’s last challenge came from Woodland, who had held a share of the overnight lead with Matt Kuchar at 12 under.

But Woodland missed birdie putts of 8, 10 and 10 feet on the last three holes, the latter with Scott standing with his caddy Steve Williams on the range and watching the action on the LED board.