Adam Scott wins Crowne Plaza Invitational; retains #1 ranking

Adam Scott has beaten Jason Dufner at the third sudden-death playoff hole to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

Adam Scott arrived at the Crowne Plaza Invitational as the world’s best golfer but after a poor opening round it looked like he would only hold the title for just a week.

By Sunday afternoon Scott would not only still be ranked the world’s best but the owner of a new trophy to go on the mantle piece and a plaid jacket to go in the wardrobe.

Scott beat Jason Dufner in a three-hole sudden death playoff to secure a remarkable comeback victory. Both players made par on the opening hole but when Dufner knocked his approach shot close on the second hole, Scott needed to make a 14 foot putt from just off the green to extend the playoff.

The putt never looked like missing and was as clutch as you’ll ever get.

The tables turned on the third playoff hole. Dufner knocked his second onto the green but was a long way from the hole. Scott, with that swing we’re all jealous of, hit is second shot five feet from the flagstick. Dufner missed his long birdie attempt and Scott rolled in the birdie for the win.

Scott’s bad start to the tournament on Thursday meant that Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was a real chance of taking his #1 ranking with a good performance over the pond at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in London.

Golf nerds calculated all the possible scenarios based on where Scott and Stenson would finish – many assuming Scott would finish low in the field.

And for a while it appeared Scott would miss the cut.

Scott scrambled to overcome a 4-over par opening nine holes to finish 1-over par for round one. A birdie at the final hole of his second round assured him of a place in the field on the weekend and this is when Scott made his move.

A 4-under par 66 got him into a position to win and with Stenson finishing seventh in London, Scott needed a placing of 13th or better to retain the world number one ranking. And he did that with style.

Only a double-bogey on the ninth hole halted his charge before three back-nine birdies completed another 4-under round of 66. Enough to get him in the playoff with Jason Dufner and one shot ahead of Sweden’s Freddie Jacobsen and American Nicholas Thompson.

Scott only recently decided to play in the event after realising he needed more tournament time in preparation for his assault on the US Open next month. With victory at The Crowne Plaza Invitational Scott has done something no other player ever has; he’s now won all four PGA Tour tournaments held in Texas: The Texas Open in 2010, Houston Open in 2007 and the Byron Nelson Championship 2008.

It was also the third playoff that Adam Scott has been in on the PGA Tour. He has won all three.

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