American duo Blayne Barber and Justin Thomas shared third place on five under, with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell a shot further back in fifth after a closing 69.
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“I got off to a good start, made one (for birdie) on the first and that definitely relaxed me”, Scott told NBC Sports after winning his first tournament since the PGA Tour’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in May of 2014.
With a ban on anchoring putters to the chin or chest coming into effect at the start of this year, Scott had tried to wean himself off his beloved broomstick putter during his 2015 campaign but experienced several setbacks with that transition. This was his 18th consecutive round at par or better.
However, with Scott dropping a shot on the ninth after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker and another on the 10th after a wayward drive, Garcia was back on level terms before missing from two feet for par on the 11th after his approach only cleared the water by a few yards.
Scott finished 72 holes on nine-under 271 with Spain’s Garcia firing a final-round 71 to settle for second by a shot.
Both players bogeyed the 16th and Garcia’s chances of victory effectively disappeared with another bogey on the next, although the Ryder Cup star at least birdied the last before Scott calmly tapped in for par to secure the win.
Adam Scott’s one-shot victory at the Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday earned him not only a 12th PGA Tour title but also the best possible validation that all his hard work on a revised putting technique is now paying off. He got there posting rounds of 71-69-67-69 for a personal best at the Honda in his eighth appearance, eclipsing a T6 in 2011. “Fortunately it was enough in the end”.
“I think generally everyone is trying to help and genuine”.
Yes, he still can win with a short putter. For Garcia, it was another disappointing defeat. I don’t feel like my swing is anywhere near where I want it to be but I scored nicely, I putted well, I chipped quite well.
“I guess there is some sense to win again, it was most satisfying to win having played really good golf”, he said.
The weather was a reversal from last year’s tournament, when heavy rains and winds canceled a day of play and forced a Monday finish.
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“This course is a real tough test and if you play well, five or six under is always going to make a real impact”. I don’t think it’s going to be that big a deal for me, ” Scott said.
