Adam Scott has won for a first time this season in defeating America’s Jason Duffner in a play-off to capture the Colonial Invitational in Forth Worth, Texas.
The Lone Star State again proved a happy hunting ground for the Australian who captured the 2007 Shell Houston Open, 2008 Byron Nelson Classic and the 2010 Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
Victory also is Scott’s first as a married man after revealing at the recent Players Championship he secretly tied the knot at his Bahamas hideaway just days after his Masters defence.
Both Scott and Duffner ended regulation play tied at nine under par after both 2013 Major Champions also shooting rounds of 66.
The duo then went to the first extra hole where both players made par and then onto the second extra hole where they also made pars.
Adam Scott makes it four wins in the Lone Star State with victory in the Colonial Invitational.
Scott then sealed victory with a birdie at the third extra hole with a seven-foot birdie to collect the $US 1,152m first prize cheque and less than a week after moving to World No. 1.
“It’s so satisfying in so many ways to get it done,” said Scott.
“It’s also a good feeling, and maybe some validation.”
Scott had bogeyed four of his first nine holes in the first round at Colonial and midway through his final round, he had a double-bogey that dropped him three strokes off the lead.
“Maybe added a little pressure for myself, trying to play like a No. 1,” he said.
“But I think the important thing was I realized that didn’t mean playing perfect, and I certainly didn’t play perfect all week.
“But the way you come back and get it done, and I felt like I certainly played like one of the best players in the world out there on the back nine.”
Strangely, Scott had contested the event just twice before in 2010 and 2011 and finishing no higher than 64th.
It is Scott’s 11th official victory on the PGA Tour although he also won the shortened 2005 Nissan Open but the PGA Tour, unlike under European Tour guidelines, did not recognize the win.
Victory in Fort Worth ensures Scott remains World No. 1.
The play-off could not have been better for Texas fans with Scott and Duffner dueling it out on the famed Colonial County Club course.
Scott was flirting all day with dropping out of his No. 1 spot knowing he needed a top 13 finish to keep Sweden’s Henrik Stenson from ending his reign at the top of the world rankings after just one week.
After a double bogey at the ninth, it looked like Scott’s shot at a win was over but the Aussie regrouped for an inward 32 to get back to the lead at 9-under.
Dufner was another early charger, and probably should have posted a number better than 66 but missed a couple short putts and burned the edges on a few others.
His irons, as usual, were all over the flagstick all day but he couldn’t get the birdies to drop on the back nine.
Then came the 18th, and the reigning PGA Champion holed a gem from 25 feet.
But to no avail and with Duffner’s joy snuffed out at the third extra hole.
Scott’s win certainly makes amends for letting slip victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
And Scott’s win continues a remarkable ‘Down Under’ success on the PGA with the Queenslander becoming the fourth Aussie to win on golf’s greatest stage in 2014.
Australian PGA Tour victories in 2014:-
John Senden – Valspar Championship.
Steven Bowditch, Valero Texas Open
Matt Jones, Shell Houston Open.
Adam Scott, Colonial Invitational.
