adminSYDNEY. — Double major-winner Rory McIlroy won the Australian Open golf title yesterday with a birdie at the final hole, sensationally pipping the home favourite Adam Scott, to secure his first tournament victory of 2013.
Scott was leading by a stroke with one hole to play and looked certain to become only the second player ever to capture the Australian “Triple Crown”.
However, the world number two dramatically bogeyed the last and McIlroy holed a 16-foot birdie putt for a final day 66 to win with a total of 18-under par at the Royal Sydney course, becoming only the second European to win the event. Scott said he misjudged the wind and took too much club on the last, blowing his bid to add a home Open title to his victories at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Masters with a 71 in the final round.
“I am gutted, I felt like I never had a better chance to win the Australian Open,” Scott said afterwards.
“It was going to be a tough day, Rory made his move and I just couldn’t get my putts in.” The US Masters champion’s error on 18 in front of a stunned crowd opened the door for McIlroy, who said the Australian “gave me a couple of lifelines and I was able to take advantage of that on the last”. — AFP.
Online Reporter