RORY MCILROY PIPS ADAM SCOTT FOR AUSSIE OPEN TITLE

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has snatched the Emirates Australian Open title from the hands of Adam Scott to claim his first victory of the year at Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Trailing Scott for the majority of Sunday, the World Number 6 sank a 12 foot birdie on the 18th green to collect his first title since November 2012, while it was heartbreak for Scott who bogeyed the last - a decisive two-shot swing in McIlroy's favour.
McIlroy’s final round of 6-under 66 for a 16-under-par total of 270 was just too good for Scott who with a one-under 71 (his worst round of the tournament), finished at 17-under 271 in second position, six shots ahead of the third placed John Senden.
2006 Australian Open Champion John Senden finished in third position, claiming one of three spots up for grabs in the 2014 Open Championship at Hoylake.
In only his second year as a professional Bryden Macpherson also secured a return to the Open Championship, the Victorian last competing for the Claret Jug in 2011 as an amateur.
Finishing at 9-under par alongside Macpherson, Rhein Gibson will also make the trip to Royal Liverpool in July for his Open (and Major) debut.
But Sunday was all about two-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy who was delighted to finish atop the leaderboard for the first time in 2013.
“Since the end of September I've just felt in a better place, a better place mentally with some things off the course,” said McIlroy.
“Golf's a long career and I'm 24 years old. I get a little impatient at times and if I actually just took a step back and looked at the bigger picture, it hasn't been too bad a year.”
While admitting that he felt a little guilty at ruining Scott’s Triple Crown glory, McIlroy had nothing but praise for Scott who led Rory by seven shots after starting the tournament with a record 62 to McIlroy's 69.
“He's had a phenomenal year. Masters champion, he won one of the FedEx Cup play off events. He came down here to Australia, won the Aussie PGA and then the Aussie Masters. Then World Cup last week and here,” he said.
“He's a true gentleman and he's a credit to the game but he's also a credit to this country. I was just lucky to be able to come out on top today.”
Whilst disappointed that the Triple Crown fairytale didn’t end as predicted, a dejected Scott was thankful for such a successful season that included victory at the US Masters and back-to-back wins at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola and the Talisker Masters in November.
“It's been a great year. Obviously I didn't want to finish like that. If I didn't play any good the first few days and played great today and finished second I'd be pretty chuffed going into Christmas, so that's how I should look at it,” said Scott who shot a course record 10-under 62 on Thursday.
“I'm gutted. I felt like I never had a better chance to win the Aussie Open but it was tight the whole back nine.”
“Nothing was going my way on the greens today. I could have put this thing away I think early on if the putter was behaving how it should have, like it did the rest of the week but I just misjudged into the last and a player as good as Rory is going to take that opportunity.”
Regardless of the result Scott still secured the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title, his second since turning professional in 2000.
Western Australia’s Brady Watt also didn’t leave empty handed, his 5-under par finish in a tie for 14th earning him the title as low amateur in the field.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from Australia unless otherwise stated
270 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 69 65 70 66
271 Adam Scott 62 70 68 71
277 John Senden 73 68 70 66
279 Bryden Macpherson 71 70 69 69, Rhein Gibson 71 70 69 69
280 Jason Day 70 74 66 70, Matthew Jones 68 68 72 72, Mark Brown 75 70 66 69

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