Date: November 17, 2013
Author: Martin Blake / www.golf.org.au

Scott the Master as Kuchar dunked

Adam Scott&aposs dream of the triple crown is alive, but only just. After a dramatic day in which the Australian threatened to throw away his Talisker Masters title in the manner of Royal Lytham 2012, Scott actually caught a break. American Matt Kuchar, the world No. 8 and as tough a competitor as can be found in the world of golf, wrenched the lead from him and promptly handed it straight back with a visit to the notorious &aposDunk&aposs Island&apos, a patch of scrubby native grass, beside the 18th green. (so named from when Billy Dunk got up and down to win a tournament in 1975). Kuchar led the tournament by two shots when he walked off the 15th green, but botched the par-four 16th and then double-bogeyed the last in a spectacular implosion. In the end, a scratchy even-par 71 was enough for Scott, who successfully defended the title he won at Kingston Heath last year and extended his winning streak in the big Australian tournaments to two, after he won the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines last weekend. If you count the PGA Grand Slam, a made-for-television event in Bermuda immediately before Royal Pines, he is up to three events in a row and in the best form of his life. What remains to be seen if the fatigue from carrying the weight of expectation in his return to Australia can stop him from winning the World Cup at Royal Melbourne next week, and the Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney the week afterward. If he can win the Open, he will have completed the so-called triple crown of the big Australian tournaments in one season, a feat only achieved by Rob Allenby in 2005. Scott finished at 14-under-par, two ahead of Kuchar, who blazed through the front nine in 31 on a day when the cream of world golf rose to the top on one of the planet&aposs best golf courses. Fiji&aposs Vijay Singh, playing in the same group as Scott, threatened briefly but faded to finish third at 10-under. Scott beat off his nearest rival early, but it was Kuchar, playing in an earlier group, who gave him the biggest fright. The Australian showed a portent of his issues early with a missed birdie putt from just over a metre at the par-four first, and he was on a rollercoaster. A penalty drop from deep rough at the second put him in trouble, but he extracted himself with a great chip to save par, then made a beautiful birdie from four metres at the third. Bogeys from the wicked front trap at the par-three fifth, and behind the green at the seventh, opened the door for Kuchar. Reaching the 14th tee Scott led by a shot, but his wedge shot plugged in the front trap, a nasty &apos&aposfried egg&apos&apos lie, and he would end up with double bogey. This was the moment when Kuchar, tapping in for a birdie on the par-five 15th, would seize the lead. It was fickle luck for Scott, for Royal Melbourne&aposs bunkers rarely produce plugged lies; this one was a shocker. But Scott came back hard, hitting quality shots when he needed them, taking advantage of the downwind 15th with a birdie, and parring in. Kuchar botched the 16th, hitting an awful chip and taking double bogey, to hand back the lead. Scott his the pin with his approach at 17, but came in with three pars that were sufficient. Kuchar had already taken a six at the par-four 18th, finding the scrubby area of deep rough in the right greenside bunker made infamous many years ago when Billy Dunk, an Australian professional, threw away a tournament from the very spot. Kuchar could only hack his ball into the trap, and he could not get it up and down from there. He signed for 68, still the best round of the day by the players who were in contention. Scott said he had felt “a little shaky out there&apos&apos, but added that he had stayed in the moment, particularly after the disaster at 14. “Sometimes you kind of win a bit ugly. All the stuff I had done in the first three rounds counted for a lot.&apos&apos The Queenslander said he knew that the closing stretch was playing tough, so that if he could pick up a shot at 15 he would probably be in the running. “I try not to think about the result,&apos&apos he said. Kuchar was philosophical. “It&aposs never fun … the 72nd hole, but it can happen anytime,&apos&apos said Kuchar. “I tried on the last hole to stay aggressive and hit a good quality shot and I thought I did. The thing about Royal Melbourne is you can really pay the price for just being off if you play aggressively. We shot some good numbers, hit a lot of good shots, but this course can jump up and get you quickly. It got me at a bad time unfortunately.&apos&apos Scott added another gold jacket to his closet, and he will edge a little closer to Tiger Woods&apos world No. 1 ranking, with another chance to make his move at the World Cup this week, where he teams with Jason Day. “My game&aposs in good shape,&apos&apos he said. “My focus now is to get Jason revved up.&apos&apos Final Leaderboard 1. Adam Scott -14 2. Matt Kuchar -12 3. Vijay Singh -10 4. Nick Cullen -9 T5. Ryan Fox -6 T5. Matthew Griffin -6