Date: June 11, 2007
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Scott sinks at St Jude

Adam Scott let slip a three-stroke lead on the final day of the St Jude Championship as American Woody Austin stormed home to win. Scott (75) endured a horror back-nine and plummeted from atop the leader-board to end the US Open warm-up in seventh place. The Australian started solidly with six straight pars to open his round before a bogey at the seventh. Back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 may have had Scott planning his acceptance speech, but things went horribly wrong from there. He yanked his tee shot into the long grass on the par-four 14th and missed a five-foot par putt for his first bogey on the back nine this week. Scott then found the lake at the 15th from the tee on the par three and three-putted for a triple bogey that all but ended his tournament hopes. A birdie at the 16th momentarily resuscitated Scott&aposs round before three bogeys closed out his disappointing day. In contrast to Scott&aposs struggles were the fortunes of little-known Austin. Trailing by four strokes at the start of Sunday&aposs play, Austin shot the best closing round on tour this year to claim his first PGA Tour victory since 2004 and just his third overall. He was understandably thrilled with his eight-under 62. “That was a true round of golf and was one of those surprises that we all get every once in a while,” Austin said. “I&aposm just happy it happened to me on a Sunday when it really mattered.” He carded an eagle and six birdies in a bogey-free round for a 13-under 267 total. This tournament featured its strongest field in years with six of the top 12 players in the world, but it was the lesser lights that shone. Brian Davis (72) was second, David Toms (69) third and Brian Gay (70) a shot back in fourth place. Australian Robert Allenby (70) was tied for 12th, compatriot Stephen Leaney (68) in a group of players tied for 21st and Andrew Buckle (71), another Australian, in a share of 25th place.