Monday, March 29, 2004
Ocala Star Banner
TPC AT SAWGRASS
Scott survives
Bogey on last hole makes things close
Published March 29. 2004 8:30AM
By PAT DOOLEY
Sun sports writer
For most of four rounds at The Players Championship, Adam Scott was a cool and composed as the greens were hot.
But after his improbable bogey on the final hole gave him the tournament title, he let it all out.
Pumping his fist and throwing down his hat to the ground, the 23-year old Australian celebrated the biggest win of his career.
“I don't get too pumped up on the golf course,” he said. “But when that putt went in I could have knocked anybody out.”
Scott appeared to be cruising to an easy win and the $1.4 million payday that comes with it when he expanded what had been a one-shot lead early in the round to a four-shot lead.
While most of the contenders were fading, Padraig Harrington was getting hot, recording six straight threes on his final six holes to finish at 11-under.
Still, when Scott missed a short birdie putt on the 16th hole, it looked as if it would make the final result just closer than it really was.
“Funny things happen on this course,” Scott said.
It almost wasn't very funny for Scott. He yanked his second shot into the water on the 18th hole and needed a 10-foot putt to win by a stroke at 12-under par 276.
While Harrington was on the range working on the shot he might have to hit on the first playoff hole — the 17th — Scott drained the putt he had to have.
“I thought, 'This is your chance,’ ” he said. “Let's take the break out in a nice firm putt and knock it straight in the back. And it was just perfect, that putt.
“I got myself in a good frame of mind. I just started thinking back to all the big putts I've holed.”
This was the biggest.
Thanks to a chipping lesson from his hero Greg Norman on Wednesday and a swing as smooth as whipped cream, Scott shot a 3-under 33 on the front. After birdies on 11 and 12, it looked like a cakewalk.
But Harrington, who bogeyed three of his first six holes, made birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and an eagle on the 16th to suddenly become a contender.
When he birdied the final hole, his 11-under score was posted for Scott to stare down.
But Harrington knew how well Scott was playing and expected the worst.
Sporting hair that he had died blonde over the winter, Harrington spent his time waiting for Scott to finish by alternating between hitting shots and talking on his cell phone to keep track of what was going on.
“I didn't expect a playoff,” he said. “I didn't see it happening. I obviously would be happier if Adam had finished 14-under and I could be happy playing well down the stretch. I am disappointed with the way it turned out.
“I wasn't going to sit there three or four holes following every shot. It would be counterproductive.”
While hitting balls on the range, Harrington heard a groan from the crowd and assumed that Scott's playing partner — Frank Lickliter — had hit an errant shot.
“I was surprised to hear it was Adam,” he said.
But Scott recovered to win for the second time on the PGA Tour and sixth time worldwide.
“I didn't think about anything else but making that putt,” Scott said. “It takes something to win this tournament. I said that even before I won it because those last three holes are brutal.”
With the greens turning brown in places, some of golf's best struggled on the final day. Phil Mickelson, three back at the start of the round, shot an erratic 71 that left him tied for third.
Tiger Woods, who said the greens were so glassy he could see his reflection, shot a 73 and finished tied for 16th. Ernie Els shot a 78 to finish 11 shots back.
Kenny Perry and Lickliter ended up tied for third with Mickelson. Jay Haas fired a final round 66 to tie Jerry Kelly and Kevin Sutherland, the second-round leaders, for sixth.
“It was the best tee-to-green round of my life,” Haas said.
But in the end, it was the kid in the bright orange shirt who took home the crystal trophy.
“I think maybe I let my guard drop after I got my tee shot on 18 away,” Scott said. “It almost cost me the whole tournament.”
TPC AT SAWGRASS
Scott survives
Bogey on last hole makes things close
Published March 29. 2004 8:30AM
By PAT DOOLEY
Sun sports writer
For most of four rounds at The Players Championship, Adam Scott was a cool and composed as the greens were hot.
But after his improbable bogey on the final hole gave him the tournament title, he let it all out.
Pumping his fist and throwing down his hat to the ground, the 23-year old Australian celebrated the biggest win of his career.
“I don't get too pumped up on the golf course,” he said. “But when that putt went in I could have knocked anybody out.”
Scott appeared to be cruising to an easy win and the $1.4 million payday that comes with it when he expanded what had been a one-shot lead early in the round to a four-shot lead.
While most of the contenders were fading, Padraig Harrington was getting hot, recording six straight threes on his final six holes to finish at 11-under.
Still, when Scott missed a short birdie putt on the 16th hole, it looked as if it would make the final result just closer than it really was.
“Funny things happen on this course,” Scott said.
It almost wasn't very funny for Scott. He yanked his second shot into the water on the 18th hole and needed a 10-foot putt to win by a stroke at 12-under par 276.
While Harrington was on the range working on the shot he might have to hit on the first playoff hole — the 17th — Scott drained the putt he had to have.
“I thought, 'This is your chance,’ ” he said. “Let's take the break out in a nice firm putt and knock it straight in the back. And it was just perfect, that putt.
“I got myself in a good frame of mind. I just started thinking back to all the big putts I've holed.”
This was the biggest.
Thanks to a chipping lesson from his hero Greg Norman on Wednesday and a swing as smooth as whipped cream, Scott shot a 3-under 33 on the front. After birdies on 11 and 12, it looked like a cakewalk.
But Harrington, who bogeyed three of his first six holes, made birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and an eagle on the 16th to suddenly become a contender.
When he birdied the final hole, his 11-under score was posted for Scott to stare down.
But Harrington knew how well Scott was playing and expected the worst.
Sporting hair that he had died blonde over the winter, Harrington spent his time waiting for Scott to finish by alternating between hitting shots and talking on his cell phone to keep track of what was going on.
“I didn't expect a playoff,” he said. “I didn't see it happening. I obviously would be happier if Adam had finished 14-under and I could be happy playing well down the stretch. I am disappointed with the way it turned out.
“I wasn't going to sit there three or four holes following every shot. It would be counterproductive.”
While hitting balls on the range, Harrington heard a groan from the crowd and assumed that Scott's playing partner — Frank Lickliter — had hit an errant shot.
“I was surprised to hear it was Adam,” he said.
But Scott recovered to win for the second time on the PGA Tour and sixth time worldwide.
“I didn't think about anything else but making that putt,” Scott said. “It takes something to win this tournament. I said that even before I won it because those last three holes are brutal.”
With the greens turning brown in places, some of golf's best struggled on the final day. Phil Mickelson, three back at the start of the round, shot an erratic 71 that left him tied for third.
Tiger Woods, who said the greens were so glassy he could see his reflection, shot a 73 and finished tied for 16th. Ernie Els shot a 78 to finish 11 shots back.
Kenny Perry and Lickliter ended up tied for third with Mickelson. Jay Haas fired a final round 66 to tie Jerry Kelly and Kevin Sutherland, the second-round leaders, for sixth.
“It was the best tee-to-green round of my life,” Haas said.
But in the end, it was the kid in the bright orange shirt who took home the crystal trophy.
“I think maybe I let my guard drop after I got my tee shot on 18 away,” Scott said. “It almost cost me the whole tournament.”
