MALMO, Sweden, 4 August 2003 — Australia’s Adam Scott claimed his fourth European Tour title with a two-shot victory at the Scandinavian Masters yesterday to bounce back into the race for an automatic Presidents Cup place.
Although he was briefly caught in the final round, the 23-year-old from Adelaide birdied four of the last seven holes for a three-under-par 69, taking the $364,000 first prize with a total of 11-under 277.
Britain’s 21-year-old Nick Dougherty, the 2002 European Tour rookie of the year, sank an 18-foot birdie putt at the last to secure outright second place at nine under with a final-round 69.
Dougherty, who led for the first two days, moved a stroke clear after the sixth hole, but the young Englishman then found birdies less easy to come by than his Australian rival over the closing stretch.
Andrew Coltart, four off the pace overnight, carded a 68 to tie for third at eight under, level with fellow Briton Luke Donald (70) and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson (69).
Scott won his last title just under a year ago when he romped to a 10-shot victory at the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles. Starting the day tied for the lead with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber overnight, Scott kept his cool as Dougherty initially forged ahead. He returned to the top of the leader board before the turn and then extended his advantage over the back nine.
His victory was double-edged as the win lifted him from 15th spot back into the top 10 automatic qualifiers for Gary Player’s Presidents Cup International team, which will take on the Jack Nicklaus-led US team from Nov. 21-23.
Lafeber, who had led for the fourth time in 18 months going into the final round, was still found wanting and slipped to 11th place, six behind Scott, with a final-round 75.
Furyk Grabs Lead at Buick Open
In Grand Blanc, Michigan, US Open champion Jim Furyk fired a seven-under 65 on Saturday, gaining some separation from Tiger Woods and vaulting into the lead after the third round of the $4 million Buick Open. “I don’t think it really matters that much,” Furyk said of the massive crowds that followed him and Woods. “I wanted to go out and get a low number, and whether I’m playing with Tiger or someone else, it doesn’t make that much of a difference other than it felt like 20,000 people were watching us.”
The throng watched Furyk roll in a long, breaking birdie at the final hole to push his 54-hole total to 17-under 199, one shot better than Carl Paulson.
After making six birdies over the first 14 holes, Furyk parred the next three as Woods pick up a stroke at each.
Sorenstam Secures Career Grand Slam With Lytham Victory
In Lytham St. Anne’s, England, world number one Annika Sorenstam completed a career grand slam with a one-shot victory at the women’s British Open yesterday, closing with a two-under-par 70 in a thrilling finish. The Swede finished at 10-under 278, with South Korea’s world number two Pak Se Ri, who faltered at the last, alone in second place after carding a level-par 72.
Australia’s Karrie Webb (71) and South Korea’s Grace Park (70) tied for third at eight-under 280.
Paired together for the last round, Sorenstam and Pak were tied for the lead standing on the final tee. But Pak drove into a bunker and ran up a bogey five, effectively handing the Swede her maiden British Open crown.
