Rory McIlroy wins Australian Open by one shot from Adam Scott

AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL LEADERBOARD

-18: R McIlroy (NI) 

-17: A Scott (Aus) 

-11: J Senden (Aus) 

-9: B Macpherson (Aus), R Gibson (Aus)

World number six Rory McIlroy birdied the final hole to win his first tournament of 2013 with a dramatic one-shot triumph in the Australian Open.

The Northern Irishman, 24, began the final round four behind Adam Scott, who had led all week at Royal Sydney.

But McIlroy carded a fine 66, featuring an eagle at the seventh and a birdie at the last to win outright on 18 under.

World number two Scott bogeyed the 18th for a 71 to finish on 17 under, six clear of fellow Australian John Senden.

Scott, who broke the course record with a 62 on the opening day, was seeking to become only the second man, after compatriot Robert Allenby in 1995, to complete the Australian triple crown, having won the Australian PGA and Australian Masters titles last month.

But in an intriguing final day tussle on the Championship course it was McIlroy who captured his first event since the World Tour Championship in Dubai in November 2012.

Scott three-putted the first green and his four-stroke advantage had been eroded by the eighth after a fine start by 2012 US Open champion McIlroy, who produced some sparkling iron play.

Having missed a birdie chance from four feet at the seventh, Scott's putt from similar distance lipped out at the next and McIlroy was level after holing from six feet.

The Australian, who won the title in 2009, reached the turn one shot ahead after converting a six-footer for birdie and McIlroy's putt narrowly stayed out.

The final two rounds of the tournament had become something of a matchplay contest between the two biggest stars on show and holes 10 to 12 were parred by both players.

Both had eagle chances at the 13th, Scott's putt shaving the edge of the hole.

Scott had further opportunities to go two ahead, but three-putted from the front of the green at the 16th after McIlroy found a bunker, and then lipped out again at the par three 17th following a superb tee shot, with McIlroy holing a key 10-footer for par.

That meant Scott led by one with one hole to play.

However, the Australian's approach to the 18th green trickled past the flag and down the steep slope behind the green. His chip back was overhit and raced 40 feet past and the effort for par finished fractionally short.

It gave McIlroy a 10-foot putt for the title and he calmly rolled it into the centre of the cup.

"I wanted to get a win and finally I've been able to get one," said McIlroy, who was facing a first winless year since 2008. 

"More satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top. 

"Adam is a phenomenal golfer, a great competitor and probably an even better guy. I feel a bit sorry that I was the one that ruined the triple crown for him. 

"I've been building confidence for a few weeks now. When I went to Asia I started to play really well. 

"I've worked hard, I've put the hours in and I've practised hard and finally it's turned around for me."

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Adam Scott leads Rory McIlroy by four shots at Australian Open

AUSTRALIAN OPEN THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD

-16: A Scott (Aus) 

-12: R McIlroy (NI) 

-8: R Green (Aus), M Jones (Aus), M McCardle (Aus) 

-7: N Holman (Aus), S Appleby (Aus), L McKechnie (Aus), S Arnold (Aus)

Australian Adam Scott moved a step closer to claiming his country's triple crown as he extended his lead to four strokes with one round remaining at the Australian Open.

The world number two has already won the Australian PGA and Masters titles this month and began the day two shots ahead of Rory McIlroy at Royal Sydney.

Scott birdied three holes in succession and returned a 68 to reach 16 under.

McIlroy recovered from a double bogey to card a 70 and is four behind Scott.

In bright conditions the two leading players both birdied the opening hole on the 6,939-yard par-72 Championship course.

Both dropped shots at the fourth but, as the wind whipped up at the next, McIlroy dropped into the chasing pack after undercooking successive chips from the bottom of a greenside slope and then two-putting for a double bogey.

Scott moved five clear of fellow Australians Matthew Jones and Richard Green in second but drove into the trees and then found sand to bogey the 10th.

World number six McIlroy, yet to win in 2013, responded with three birdies in five holes, his tee shot at the par three 14th clipping the pin and finishing three feet from the hole but Scott also birdied the hole after pitching to a similar distance.

Scott, 33, ensured a four-shot cushion at the last after holing from inside six feet for a birdie, with McIlroy missing his birdie opportunity from closer range.

Scott's round on Saturday means he is now 51 under par for his three tournaments in Australia. He said: "To win my national championship and then also win the three events down here is an unbelievable spot to be in. 

"Before this month started, I hadn't ever won two tournaments in a row, so to have this opportunity is a bit unreal." 

McIlroy, 24, who has finished in the top six in his last two tournaments, admitted his missed putt on the 18th was costly. He said: "It would have been nice to birdie that to make the gap from four to three. 

"I've got a tough job on my hands to try and catch Adam. 

"On this golf course there can be a lot of two-shot swings and, if someone makes a couple of pars, and someone gets off to a fast start and makes a birdie and an eagle, you're right back in it." 

World number 11 Jason Day, who carded a disappointing 74 on Friday, moved into a share of 10th with a 66, the joint best round of the day.

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Rory McIlroy two behind Adam Scott at Australian Open

AUSTRALIAN OPEN SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD

-12: A Scott (Aus) 

-10: R McIlroy (NI) 

-9: R Green (Aus) 

-8: M Jones (Aus)

-6: B Watt (am) (Aus), L McKechnie (Aus), A Presnell (Aus), J Younger (Aus)

Rory McIlroy carded nine birdies in a round of 65 to move two shots behind leader Adam Scott after two rounds of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

Seven back after day one, McIlroy, yet to win this year, benefited from more favourable early conditions and reached 10 under, taking only 25 putts.

Scott endured blustery, wet afternoon weather and mixed seven birdies with a double bogey and three bogeys in a 70.

Australian left-hander Richard Green had a hole-in-one and is in third spot.

Scott's course record 62 had put him three strokes ahead on the opening day and he extended that advantage to five when he birdied the first and then holed a 50-yard chip shot for a birdie at the third.

The world number two, who will finish at the top of the Australasian Tour rankings regardless of what transpires in the final two rounds, slipped behind McIlroy after dropping three shots in two holes, but recovered to finish on 12 under for the tournament.

"It was a tough afternoon with plenty of good stuff in there but then I made a few mistakes in the tricky conditions. Overall it was pretty good and given how difficult it was, I was pleased I held it together pretty well," he said. 

"It was a day where all you could do was just hang on and try and hit as many good shots as possible. 

"And while I managed a good few birdies, if you were slightly off the bogeys were easy to come by." 

In an intriguing third-round showdown he will be paired with McIlroy, who said of his round: "As seven-unders go, I think it was a pretty comfortable one. I don't think I did anything really spectacular out there.

"I played well, putted much better today than I did yesterday too, so that was a big positive. It feels good and I'm in a great position going into the weekend."

It was the fourth time the 24-year-old Northern Irishman has posted a 65 this year, with a 64 in August's FedEx Cup opening Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston his lowest competitive round of 2013.

His best finish is second at the Texas Open in April where he was two shots behind winner Martin Laird, but in recent weeks he has shown form more reminiscent of last year when he won five titles.

McIlroy was joint sixth in the WGC Champions event in Shanghai and tied for fifth at the final European Tour event of the season, the Tour Championship in Dubai.

Peter Senior, the 54-year-old Australian who became the oldest winnerof the Australian Open last year, had two double bogeys in an 81 and missed the cut.

Meanwhile, American Kevin Streelman, who won his first PGA title at theTampa Bay Championship in March, withdrew after just four holes because of a problem with his eye.

He was taken to nearby St. Vincent's Hospital where he was informed he had a scratch on his cornea and he is awaiting advice as to whether he can travel home or, as he had intended, play in next week's Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

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McIlroy snatches victory in Sydney

Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th as Adam Scott bogeyed to hand the Northern Irishman a dramatic one-shot victory at the Australian Open in Sydney - his first in over a year.

McIlroy began the day four shots behind the Australian but a round of 66 - highlighted by an eagle on the par-five seventh - powered him to victory as Scott faltered.

The overnight leader started and finished with bogeys as he carded a 71, letting slip what would have been his second Australian Open title and the triple crown of Australian golf - the Australian Masters, PGA and Open in the same season - achieved only once before by Robert Allenby in 2005.

Instead, McIlroy can celebrate a first tournament win since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November.

After the third-round tussle between the two failed to ignite, Sunday proved a much better encounter.

McIlroy followed up his eagle with a birdie from close range at the eight to take a share of the lead.

Scott replied with a birdie on the ninth after an outstanding iron shot to regain the advantage, and after matching birdies on the 13th they headed to the final hole with Scott still up by one.

But the Australian put himself in trouble when he missed the green and then over-hit a chip to leave himself with a long putt.

He could only bogey and that left McIlroy with the fairly simple task of rolling it in from five metres for the win.

McIlroy told a press conference: "I stayed patient, I knew anything could happen.

"I always believed I could win, he (Scott) had a couple of chances but was unlucky.  

"The support this week was phenomenal, the atmosphere was fantastic." 

Of whether he would return next year, McIlroy added: "I've always tried to come back and defend wherever I've won."

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Alfred Dunhill Championship

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Sunday as he looks to make instant amends for the disappointment of seven days ago.

Schwartzel looked set to win the South African Open last week when he held a three-shot lead early in the final round, but dumped his tee shot on the sixth into water short of the green to run up a triple-bogey six.

The South African also took a double bogey on the 10th as his hopes of winning his home Open for the first time evaporated, although three birdies in the last eight holes at least saw him finish joint fourth at Glendower Golf Club.

Schwartzel could not have asked for a better location to seek redemption than Leopard Creek, having won here by 12 shots last year, and the 29-year-old is again the man to catch on 13 under par after a flawless third round of 67.

The former Masters champion's score was matched by England's Richard Finch and France's Victor Riu to leave them two and three shots behind respectively.

"I played a lot better today I think than the first two days, I felt more comfortable and hit more aggressive and positive shots," said Schwartzel, who had complained of some "very, very iffy" pin positions after his second round of 68. 

"The one or two holes I didn't feel comfortable I just backed off a little bit and made par and carried on. Just try to keep the board ticking over was basically the plan for today. 

"I gave myself a lot of chances but the greens in the afternoon when you are last off, there are a lot of spike marks around the holes and the ball is bouncing around a lot so it is hard to make a lot of putts, but if things went your way it could have been really low. 

"I've got a two-shot lead and basically the same plan for tomorrow, if I can just keep going that way I will apply pressure to everyone and someone will have to play really well to catch me." 

Schwartzel has now gone 44 holes without dropping a shot and added: "If I keep playing the way I am there is no reason to make any. If you keep thinking well around the course and executing the shots you should just keep making birdies. 

"It's one of those courses where on all the right lines I feel comfortable, it's mostly right in front of you and it helps that I've had good success."

Schwartzel started the day in a share of the lead with Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen, the man who took advantage of late collapses from Schwartzel and Hennie Otto to win his maiden European Tour title in Johannesburg.

But while Madsen got off to a nightmare start with bogeys at the first two holes and eventually struggled to a 79, Schwartzel birdied the par-five second and then made a potentially decisive move around the turn.

A superb approach to the eighth left the South African with a tap-in birdie and another followed from six feet on the ninth to be out in 32.

Further birdies on the 12th and 13th took Schwartzel to 13 under par and although he failed to take advantage of the par-five 15th or 18th, the world number 21 will be a strong favourite to win the event for a third time.

Finch won twice on the European Tour in 2008 but lost his card in 2013 and having failed to regain it via the qualifying school, is playing this week thanks to an invite from the tournament sponsors.

The 36-year-old suffered a terrible finish to his second round when he dropped four shots in the last three holes, but made amends on Saturday with a flawless round containing five birdies and no bogeys.

Fellow Englishman Ross Fisher was not so fortunate, the former Ryder Cup player finding water with his approach to the 18th to take a double-bogey seven and drop six shots off the lead.

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Scott takes four-shot Sydney lead

Adam Scott stretched his lead to four shots ahead of the final round of the Australian Open with Rory McIlroy his only real challenger remaining after a big day at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Scott blotted his scorecard with two bogeys in a third round of 68, but that compared well with the four he recorded on Friday after his blistering opening effort of 62.

A run of three birdies between the seventh and ninth ensured he remained the right side of par on the day, and helped him pull clear of McIlroy who ran into trouble early in the day, with a bogey on the fourth and a double bogey on the fifth, before recovering with four birdies between the seventh and 14th helping him to a round of 70.

That sees Scott stretch his overnight lead to four, but with McIlroy also increasing his grip on second place - four shots clear of Matthew Jones, Richard Green and Max McCardie in a three-way tie for third - it appears unlikely that Sunday's winner will come from anywhere other than the top two.

Of those three in third place, only McCardie showed any real form in the third round, carding a 69 to move up while Jones had an eagle 72, late bogeys on the 17th and 18th helping to cancel out his eagle on the seventh, while a poor back nine saw Green sign for a 73.

Stuart Appleby moved up to a share of sixth with a round of 67 while Jason Day got himself into the top 10 with a 66, a mark equalled by Mark Brown and Anthony Murdaca on the day but not bettered.

Earlier this month Scott won the Australian PGA Championship and the Talisker Masters and chief executive officer of the PGA of Australia Brian Thorburn is delighted with Scott's achievements already this year.

Referring to not only his Australian PGA and Masters wins but also his World Cup of Golf title, Thorburn told www.pga.org.au: "What Adam has already achieved over the last four weeks is remarkable."

On Sunday Scott can make history if he claims the Australian golf triple crown, and Thorburn added: "It's already been a history-making year for the US Masters champion and tomorrow Adam has another chance to do what no other person has ever done.

"On behalf of all of Adam's fellow PGA and PGA Tour of Australasia Members I wish him the best of luck."

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India success for Suwannapura

Thidapa Suwannapura claimed her first Ladies European Tour title in fine fashion at the Hero Women's Indian Open.

One shot clear going into the final 18 holes, Suwannapura carded a closing round of 68 to win the first prize of $45,000, the highest ever offered for women professionals in India.

She birdied the first to extend that advantage and back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th all-but sealed her maiden success.

Valentine Derrey of France had moved to the head of the leaderboard alongside Suwannapura after a second birdie of the day at the sixth, but she was unable to make any further headway on the back-nine where nine pars proved only enough for a five-under par finish.

England's Hannah Burke and another Thailand player Saraporn Chamchoi finished tied for third on four-under.

But there was no joy for Solheim Cup star Charley Hull, who was looking for her first tour win as well, as she finished with a level-par 72 and finished in a tie for fifth, five strokes behind the winner.

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