Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to snatch victory from Adam Scott at the Australian Open on Sunday, winning for the first time in 2013 and denying Scott the rare Australian triple crown.
McIlroy started the last round four shots behind Scott but drew level when he eagled the seventh and birdied the eighth.
Scott went a shot ahead with a birdie at the ninth then the pair went shot for shot over the back nine before the tournament’s dramatic climax on the final hole.
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Scott’s approach shot went over the back of the green and his resultant chip went well past the hole, with two putts bringing a bogey. McIlroy hit his approach to 10 feet and sank the putt to claim victory by a shot and end his long wait for a trophy.
“I wanted to get a win and finally I’ve been able to get one,” McIlroy said. “But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top.
“Adam is a phenomenal golfer, a great competitor and probably an even better guy and I feel a bit sorry that I was the one that ruined the triple crown for him.”
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Scott was attempting to be only the second player after compatriot Robert Allenby in 2005 to win Australia’s triple crown by claiming the Australian Open, Masters and PGA titles in the same season.
Scott was left to rue a series of missed birdie opportunities, failing to hole six putts from within 12 feet during his final round.
“Nothing was going my way on the greens today,” Scott said. “I could have put this thing away early on if the putter was behaving how it should have, how it did the rest of the week.”
Both players took irons from the tee on the last hole and landed their shots adjacent to each other on the fairway.
Scott’s approach landed ahead of the hole but a cruel bounce sent the ball flying through the back of the green.
Rather than pitch and run back onto the green, Scott chose to give his chip some loft. It failed to pull up, rolling onto the lower tier of the green and the local favourite did well to salvage a bogey.
McIlroy stood assessing his ten foot putt during Scott’s excursions, and after Scott holed out, McIlroy rolled in a slow putt that just made it to the hole.
“I didn’t think it was going to unfold the way it did,” McIlroy said. “It’s hard not to feel some guilt in the way I won it.
“Having a one-shot lead going into the last having it taken away from you right at the very end, it’s tough.”
McIlroy finished with an 18-under par tally of 270, a shot ahead of Scott, who was a further six shots ahead of Australian John Senden at 11 under.
Senden and compatriots Bryden MacPherson and Rhein Gibson, who tied for fourth at 9-under, all qualified for next year’s British Open.