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SPORTSTuesday 1 March 2016

Scott relevant again because of win, not putter

DOUG FERGUSON Adam Scott, of Australia, holds the trophy after winning the Honda Classic golf tournament with a 9-under-par, Sunday, Feb. 28,
AP Golf Writer 2016, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
PALM BEACH GARDENS,
Florida (AP) — Adam Scott Associated Press
seemed like the only per-
son who wasn’t worried was his 18th consecutive that keeps going.” good. Scott to convert his short
about the 35-inch length of
his putter. round at par or better. Dat- Overlooked in the chatter Asked if it was good to get par putt.
Scott was far more con-
cerned that he had gone ing to the Japan Open last about long putters is that that out of the way, the “He played really, really sol-
36 tournaments over 21
months without winning fall, he has finished out of Scott had won 18 times 35-year-old Aussie couldn’t id,” Garcia said. “I played
anywhere in the world,
the longest drought of his the top 10 only twice in his worldwide with a conven- resist. with him the last two days,
career. Nearly two years
removed from No. 1 in the last nine tournaments. tional putter, including The “Probably good for ev- and he looked awesome.
world, he was on the verge
of falling out of the top 20 That’s about the time Scott Players Championship and erybody who likes talking I know I can play better.
when he began his first big
stretch of golf leading into switched back to the short the Tour Championship. He about it, absolutely,” Scott That’s the good thing. With-
the Masters.
Sunday in the Honda Clas- putter for good. went to a long putter that said. “And therefore, good out feeling like I was swing-
sic turned out to be quite a
statement. “I’ve kind of said it the he anchored against his for me. Good for me be- ing that great, I still man-
Coming off a runner-up whole time. I don’t think it’s chest at the Match Play cause maybe we don’t aged to have a chance, so
finish at Riviera last week, going to be that big a deal Championship in 2011, and have to go over it too much I’m happy with that.”
Scott closed with an even-
par 70 in tough conditions for me,” Scott said. “It’s he contended in the Mas- anymore. Again, it just reas- The final round was a duel
at PGA National to hold off
Sergio Garcia for a one- some hard work, and I’m ters two months later. sures me I’m on the right between Scott and Gar-
shot victory.
“I want to feel somewhat not afraid of that. I’m glad When he won the Masters track with the things I’m cia, though Justin Thomas
relevant out here when it
comes to being one of the it’s going in the right direc- in 2013, he was the fourth doing on the greens, and and Blayne Barber both
best players in the world,”
Scott said. “That’s just tion, and I’ve putted pretty winner in six majors to I’m just going to try and get got within two shots at one
down to my results. There’s
no other way. You can talk solid the last couple weeks, use an anchored putting better every week. And I point on the back nine.
it in your head and try and
build yourself up as much and I want to make sure stroke. think it’s in a great spot at Barber didn’t make a birdie
as you want, but at some
point, you’re going to have Perhaps because he the moment. over the final seven holes
to have the results to actu-
ally prove it and achieve.
“I like where things are at,”
he said. “And hopefully, it’s
a move in the right direc-
tion to be in that top 10
player in the world.”
His 26th victory worldwide
took care of that. Scott fin-
ished at 9-under 271 and
moved up to No. 9, and
there’s little to suggest he’s
about to stop there. This

reached No. 1 in the world, “If I can get better and and shot 70. Thomas took

Scott became the face better, then I like what’s to double bogey from the

of the long putters when come.” back bunker on the par-3

a new rule that outlawed Scott opened with a 10- 17th and closed with a 69.

the anchored stroke kicked foot birdie putt that set They tied for third, four shots

in this year. For those who the tone, and he seized behind.

wondered if his career was control early on the back It was the perfect way for

in jeopardy, check out that nine when Garcia missed a Scott to head toward Au-

trophy he was holding Sun- 3-foot par putt on the 11th gusta. He has two World

day. hole. Scott followed with a Golf Championships be-

Scott won in only his third 9-iron out of a bunker to 2 fore he even gets to the

start since the rule took ef- feet for birdie and a two- Masters.
fect, and his 10th event shot lead. “Hopefully,” Scott said,
since he switched back to Garcia made birdie on the “I haven’t peaked too
the conventional putter for final hole for a 71, forcing early.”q