Date: March 08, 2015
Author: Martin Blake

Holmes dominating, Scott falters

Long-bombing American JB Holmes continues to dominate the World Golf Championship's Cadillac Championship in Florida, while Australia's Adam Scott dropped out of contention.

Holmes, whose opening 62 on the Blue Monster course has been called one of the greatest competitive rounds in several decades, leads the $9.25 million tournament by five shots after carding a 70 in the third round today to finish 11-under.

Hitting enormous power cuts over the fairway traps, he has played by far the best golf all week and the tournament is his to win or lose. The WGC event has favoured the long hitters, with Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson at six-under being the only likely challengers tomorrow.

Holmes had a hole-in-one at the par-three fourth hole today with a seven iron, less than half an hour after Johnson had aced the same hole, and made a run of four consecutive birdies on the back nine to give himself a cushion for tomorrow.

As for Scott, he stiffed a lob wedge at the par-five first hole for a birdie that would have given him a positive vibe.

Starting out three shots back, he was just one shot from the lead by the time Holmes, in the group behind him, three-putted the first for bogey.

But the Queenslander seemed to find most of the bunkers on Donald Trump's remodelled Blue Monster, and he made four bogeys in five holes on the front nine before pulling it back on the back nine. A birdie at the 17th had him at five-under and still in contention but at the par-four 18th he made double bogey after driving perilously close to the pond on the left.

He signed for a three-over par 75 to finish at three-under overall, tied for eighth place and eight shots behind Holmes.

Still, Scott's experience from the week is bound to be positive, having not played any tournament golf for nearly three months, especially since he is trialling a new regulation-length putter and with the Masters just a few weeks away.

None of the other Australians are in contention at Doral.

Meanwhile in Singapore, Inbee Park of South Korea won a battle of the world's top three female players in the HSBC Champions.

Australia's Karrie Webb finished 21st and Minjee Lee 30th.