Adam Scott hit two balls into the water on one hole, but he still shot a four-under-par 66 and managed to share the lead Saturday with Sergio Garcia after three rounds of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
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The Australian, one of the most high-profile proponents of the long putter “anchored” to the body, clinched the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic – in only his third event since the technique was outlawed on January 1.
The last time Scott won a tournament with a conventional “short” putter was more than five years ago at the Singapore Open.
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.
The victory is projected to elevate Scott’s world ranking to No. 9 entering this week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.
“Today it felt like a battle; it wasn’t elation, ” said Scott, who won for the first time in 21 months. “It’s been a long time between drinks on the PGA Tour, especially after I was in such good form the last time I won, but that’s the beauty of this game”.
“I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in”. 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.
A run of 10 consecutive pars came to an end for Garcia when he missed a two-foot putt at the 11th, as Scott regained his two-stroke cushion with a superb approach from the bunker and a kick-in birdie at the next.
Garcia lost the lead with a bogey from the bunker on the 17th, and caught Scott with a short birdie on the 18th for a 67.
“Who can tell me that the guys that are 4 under are not going to go and play like Adam did today?” “I played with him the last two days”.
“I was happy with the way I played – a little bit conservative but I’ll take it”. Keeps all my ankles and technical things in good order, so feels really comfortable. With his win this week and runner-up finish last week, he looks like a serious contender heading to Augusta and this year’s Masters with the short stick. Chun stumbled on the back nine with three bogeys and a double on the 17th to let Thompson enjoy her walk down the 18th fairway. It’s never easy but I gave it my all and unfortunately (hit) a couple of bad shots on a couple of holes and it was just not enough’.
“I was just saying I had to make birdies to win this thing”.
“I’m not out of it”, Fowler said. I’m showing up at the golf course not trying to find something but continue refining what I’m already doing.
American Blayne Barber (69) was third on 205, one stroke in front of compatriots Rickie Fowler (74) and Justin Thomas (68). He turned a three-shot deficit into a three-shot lead over Sergio Garcia.
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Second-ranked Inbee Park of South Korean tied for 30th after a final-round 71 for a 1-under total. But as he said last week when he finished second in the Northern Trust Open and again this week, he has no issues now and said he thinks he will be a better putter going forward because of the switch.
