Source : ABC NEWS
Adam Scott will rue a third-round flop after storming home to finish fourth at the prestigious Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.
Rising American Jacob Bridgeman broke through for his maiden PGA Tour victory after keeping his chasers at bay — just — to convert a five-shot overnight lead into an anxious one-stroke triumph at ritzy Riviera Country Club.
Bridgeman closed with a one-over-par 72 to edge out playing partner Rory McIlroy and fast-finishing countryman Kurt Kitayama, who applied the heat with a surging Sunday 64.
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Apart from a blazing hole-out from the 12th-hole bunker and an-all-too-late birdie at the last, world number two McIlroy was unable to make enough headway down the stretch.
With a final-round 67, golf’s latest grand slam winner had to settle for joint runner-up, one stroke ahead of Scott, who closed with a flawless and brilliant eight-birdie 63 to briefly seize the clubhouse lead at 16 under.
Scott’s eight-under effort matched his low round of the day on Friday but the former world number one’s third-round 73 always left him 11 shots back and, realistically, playing for second prize.
Still, after going without a top-10 finish last year, the 2013 Masters champ’s welcome return to form will be heartening six weeks out from the season’s first major at Augusta National.
Fellow Australian Min Woo Lee also charged home with a final-round 65 to tie for 12th with world number one Scottie Scheffler at 11 under at the $US20 million ($28 million) event.
A Saturday 74 also cruelled Lee’s hopes of a higher finish following his own runner-up showing last week at Pebble Beach.
Scheffler also closed with a 65 but the American’s record 18 consecutive top-10 finishes came to a halt because of an uncharacteristic first-round two-over 74.
Almost inevitably, the spoils — and the $US4 million ($5.6 million) winner’s cheque — belonged to Bridgeman despite a nervy finish that included three bogeys and no birdies after the third hole.
The 26-year-old has been knocking on the door all season, with a top-five, top-10 and two top-20 finishes in his previous four 2026 starts.
AAP
