Sports

Scott sweats out gritty triumph in Barclays

GREAT SCOTT: Adam Scott tees off on 17 yesterday at Liberty National in Jersey City on the way to capturing a one-stroke victory over a group of four foes, including Tiger Woods. (
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It was chaotic, frenetic and at times downright painful to watch.

And at the end of the afternoon, the winner of The Barclays was sitting in the air conditioning of the angular clubhouse of Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, more than an hour removed from his last shot, waiting and watching as player after player let the tournament slip through their fingers.

Adam Scott eventually got up, went outside and hoisted the crystal, the 33-year-old Aussie supplementing his historic Masters win earlier this year with the first tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs, a final-round 5-under 66 leaving him alone at a combined 11-under.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest,” said Scott, who went from No. 11 in the FedEx Cup standings to No. 2 with his 10th career win, also putting himself square in the middle of the conversation for Player of the Year. “I just played a good round today and I came in and really didn’t think it had a chance. But obviously things went my way a lot out there, and I’m so happy.”

Scott’s bogey-free round included two birdies on the final five holes, and left him one shot clear of a four-man group headed by Tiger Woods, who battled through drastic back pain on his final nine holes and left a birdie putt on the 72nd hole just two inches from forcing a playoff.

“I hit a good putt,” said Woods, who remained atop the FedEx Cup standings heading into next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship outside of Boston. “Thought I made it. It was a little double”‘breaker and I thought I poured it in.”

Also coming to the last hole with a chance to force a playoff was Gary Woodland, who was playing in the final group with Matt Kuchar. Woodland had played poorly all day, the long-bomber even making bogey on the easy par-5 13th. Yet his 10-footer for birdie on 18 missed on the high side, and officially gave the tournament to Scott.

“Gave myself a great look,” said Woodland, who also had to suffer watching Kuchar shoot a nauseating 7-over 78. “Hit it right where I wanted to, just went the other direction. But, all in all, you know, frustrating. Came here to win and didn’t have enough at the end.”

Another slip-up came from the putter of Justin Rose, who was at 11-under when he was sizing up a 25-foot birdie putt on his 72nd hole. He gave it a good run, but the ball trickled five feet long and he missed the comebacker, as the reigning U.S. Open champ was left reaching for some perspective.

“I felt like if I was going to be in a playoff to win this golf tournament, I was going to have to make a putt at some point,” Rose said. “That was my mindset, obviously, and clearly got too aggressive.”

Another disappointments was Woods’ playing partner Kevin Chappell, who wilted on the back nine and shot a final-round 76, leaving him in a tie for 15th. And anyone who might have been close enough to make a charge didn’t — Rickie Fowler shooting a 1-under 70, Bubba Watson shooting even, Rory McIlroy shooting 1-over and Jordan Spieth shooting 2-over.

“After about 12, 13 holes yesterday, I was playing like a dog, and somehow just managed to grind out a decent score,” said Scott, whose Saturday 72 kept him within striking distance. “It’s so important to do that, because you never know what happens in this game.”