Matt Every claimed his first PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Adam Scott let his lead slip on Sunday.
American Every carded a two-under 70 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, enough to win by one shot from countryman Keegan Bradley. Scott, who held a seven-shot lead at the halfway mark, shot a four-over 76, which saw him cling onto third. Every had been nine shots back heading into the weekend and still four behind Scott after three rounds, but he capitalised on the Australian's struggles. The 30-year-old Every made two bogeys on his last three holes, with a missing four-foot par putt at the 18th almost proving costly. Bradley could have forced a play-off but missed a 30-foot birdie putt on his final hole to see Every hold onto the victory. "I kept telling myself 'maybe it (my first win) is going to be somewhere special'," Every said. "This is really cool. I still can't believe it." It came as Scott continued to let his lead slip in his final tournament before he defends his Masters title at Augusta in April. The Australian world number two made two bogeys on his first three holes before appearing to be back on track with a birdie at the fourth. But Scott failed to make another as three more bogeys saw him slip back to third – and leaves the number one ranking up for grabs. Tiger Woods, currently at number one, Scott and Henrik Stenson could all grab top spot at Augusta. Swede Stenson (68), American Erik Compton (69) and Italian Francesco Molinari (73) were tied fifth at nine under, a shot behind American Jason Kokrak (73) in outright fourth. Japan's Ryo Ishikawa (71) and American Brandt Snedeker (68) were tied for eighth at eight under as Americans Sean O'Hair (67), JB Holmes (73), Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (70) and Swede Freddie Jacobson (73) finished two shots behind them.