Scott sees off star-studded field to reign at Riviera
Genesis Invitational report: What happened at Riviera?
Adam Scott begun his 2020 as he ended 2019, with a victory.
The Australian followed up his Australian PGA Championship success with a brilliant win at the Tiger Woods-hosted Genesis Invitational.
This is the first year that the event has had elevated status on the PGA Tour with an increased prize fund and extra year’s exemption on offer and Scott will now reap those rewards.
Prior to his win in Australia he had gone more than three years without a title but the form that saw him pull on a Green Jacket seems to have returned.
Congratulations, @AdamScott! 🏆
He's won @TheGenesisInv for his 14th TOUR title.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/2Z6w7HQETF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 16, 2020
Scott began Sunday in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Matt Kuchar and Rory McIlroy, who was playing in the final group for the 12th time since the 2018 Masters.
A tough Sunday layout saw plenty of players falter and Scott’s ability to hang in there and execute shots and hole putts when it mattered saw him come out on top.
He began the day with two birdies in his first three holes but troubles at the 4th and 5th saw him drop three shots, one of which he would get back immediately at the 6th.
His performance levelled out through the middle of the round as he made pars from 7 through 12, with missed chances coming at 10 and 11, before finding another birdie at 13.
A final scare was still to come as he bogeyed the 15th, with a chip and a putt, with the chasing pack breathing down his neck.
Joel Dahmen, Max Homa and Sung Kang were all making rapid progress through the top stages of the leaderboard but a sublime chip and birdie putt on the par-5 17th all but sealed the victory.
Clutch putt from @AdamScott!
The lead is back to 2 @TheGenesisInv.
One hole left at Riviera.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/cVjgwKMGTM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 16, 2020
Scott finished on 11-under with Kang, Kuchar and Scott Brown two shots back. He will now move inside the world’s top 10 ahead of next week’s WGC and adds a 14th PGA Tour title to his record.
McIlroy endured a tough day and carded a closing round of 73. The World No. 1 struggled throughout Sunday as he was unable to pick up any sort of momentum thanks to a string of mistakes.
Woods, who was fulfilling his role of tournament host throughout the week, finished last of those who made the cut on 11-over. The Masters champion limped, metaphorically, over the finish line finishing double bogey-bogey-bogey.
Genesis Invitational report: Leaderboard
-11 Adam Scott
-9 Scott Brown, Matt Kuchar, Sung Kang
-8 Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Max Homa, Joel Dahmen,
-7 Chez Reavie, Talor Gooch, Dustin Johnson
Full leaderboard (external site)
Genesis Invitational report: Talking points
Ryan Palmer had a frustrating few moments in a greenside bunker on Saturday as he took six (yes, six) shots to get his ball out on Riviera’s 14th hole.
His post-round assessment of his struggles was brilliant frank and just as a club golfer would have described it. Mark Townsend has the full story.
Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
