Adam Scott survives test at Riviera to get back to Top-10 in the world

Los Angeles, Feb 17: It was a tough Sunday but Adam Scott literally weathered it. And with it claimed a second Genesis Invitational title at the Riviera. With all other contenders falling by the way, including the two who shared the overnight lead with him, Scott claimed his second win in as many starts. Three days before Christmas he won the Australian PGA. The two put together brought him back into Top-10 of the world rankings.

Scott finished at 11-under 273 and it was his first PGA TOUR title since the World Golf Championships event at Doral in 2016.

A win against a field that had nine of the top 10 of the world was indeed great, made greater by his handling of the conditions. He made the right clutch putts for birdie, par and even a bogey. He ended with one-under 70 and a total of 11-under, as Sung Kang (, Steven Brown and Matt Kuchar tied for second.

The win came 15 years after Scott won a playoff at Riviera. But that win did not count as official because rain shortened the tournament to 36 holes. This is his 14thofficial win on the PGA TOUR and 29th worldwide.

Riviera forrced mistakes from everyone, including the eventual winner, Scott, who went long off the fifth green and ended with a double bogey. Rory McIlroy made a triple and Kuchar had a bunch of bogeys on the back nine.

Scott’s crucial breakaway happened on the Par-3 sixth, where he sank a tough 18-foot birdie putt and then never gave up the lead.

McIlroy was tied for the lead when he went long on the fifth, took two flop shots to get on the green and then three-putted for triple bogey. Scott recovered but McIlroy did not. His tee shot on the par-3 sixth went on the wrong side of the bunker in the middle of the green and he came out with a bogey and ended the day with 73 and tied for fifth.

Tiger Woods was not in contention, even a couple of rounds earlier. Late in the round, he played a five-hole stretch in 5-over and shot 77 to finish last among the 68 players who made the cut.

For Scott the 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th gave him a two-shot margin and he parred the 18thand won.

Hideki Matsuyama finished three shots behind in a tie for fifth with McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Max Homa and Joel Dahmen.

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