Scott's quest for the No. 1 world ranking continues to be frustratingly fruitless, but it may be only a week away.
Beginning the final day of the $10 million Players Championship at Sawgrass with a hint of a chance of displacing Tiger Woods at the top of the tree for the first time, Scott knew that he needed a low round. But he made three bogeys in the first 12 holes and limped to a final-round 73.
Scott finished at two-under for the tournament and was tied-38th. He had needed to finish at least in the top 16 to jump from No. 2 to No. 1 in the rankings. None of the other three players who had a chance of jumping to No. 1 — Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar — were in contention either.
Scott has been in range of Woods' top-ranking for the last couple of months but has not altered his schedule or his approach in any attempt to take advantage of the fact that Woods is indisposed because of injury. In fact by a quirk of the rolling rankings system, he would have leap-frogged to No. 1 this week had he actually withdrawn from the Players.
It is understood that he will overtake Woods' points tally this week, even though he is not playing. But whether he actually takes the No. 1 spot depends upon the others who are nearby. Scott, meanwhile, is not listed to play again until Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament in a fortnight.
Germany's Martin Kaymer won the Players Championship by a shot when he held his game together over the tricky final two holes, including a nine-metre, curling par-saver putt at the 17th green, and a nice up-and-down from the front of the green at the last. Ryder-Cupper Kaymer tends to be really good when he is good; his only other win in America was a major, the PGA Championship.
Australians John Senden (77 today) and Matt Jones (74) had slid from contention after beginning the final round with a sliver of a chance. Victorian Marc Leishman made a big move with a final-round 67 that saw him tie for 23rd.