Adam Scott wins at Doral for second PGA Tour win in as many weeks
Adam Scott made it two-for-two on Sunday at Doral, but it didn’t come easy.
After five holes in the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship, the Aussie was 3 over par after making a second double bogey in three holes. He was six back of the lead and seemed destined to be an observer as the stacked leaderboard passed him.
Then something clicked.
Scott played the next nine holes, a stretch ending with the two most difficult on the course, in 6 under par. While Rory McIlroy struggled to make a birdie, not getting a circle on the card until the 16th hole, Scott surged to the top of the leaderboard as Bubba Watson dropped a shot, Danny Willett found the water on the 18th and Phil Mickelson couldn’t get a crucial putt to drop.
The 2013 Masters champion came to the last needing a par to clinch a second win in as many weeks, but his tee shot to the par-4 18th at the Blue Monster landed a few yards behind a Miami palm tree. Opting not to pitch out and hope for the best, Scott tried to cut his ball around the tree and onto the green. However, the ball didn’t cut. It flew straight into the margin of the water hazard that runs up the left side of the hole. Miraculously, the ball stayed dry, giving Scott a chance at a winning up-and-down.
After chipping his ball to about 10 feet, Scott, using a standard-length, counterweighted putter with a claw grip, drained the clincher confidently. He pumped his fist knowing he had held off Watson by a shot at 12-under 276.
Danny Willett and Rory McIlroy finished tied for third at 10 under par. Phil Mickelson finished in solo fourth for his third top-five finish in six PGA Tour starts this season.
However, it’s Scott who has the clear momentum. After winning The Honda Classic last week, Scott became the first player since Billy Horschel in 2014 (BMW Championship, Tour Championship) to win in back-to-back weeks on the PGA Tour.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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