Scott Edges Dufner on Third Playoff Hole to Win at Colonial


Adam Scott cemented his position as the No. 1-ranked player in golf by winning the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial on Sunday.

After tying Jason Dufner in regulation at 9-under 271, the 33-year-old from Adelaide, Australia, birdied the third playoff hole for his 11th PGA Tour victory.

Scott fired his second 4-under 66 over the weekend to tie Dufner - who also shot 66 Sunday - through 72 holes at 9-under 271, forcing extra holes. On the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, both players got pars and then each birdied the par-4 17th to send the playoff back to the 18th.

After Dufner missed his 40-foot birdie try, Scott rolled in a 7-footer for birdie to cap a successful first week as the new No. 1.

Scott started his final round with four birdies, a bogey and a double on the par-4 ninth to make the turn in 1-under 34. He then hit his stride with birdies on the par-5 11th and par-4 12th, followed by another birdie on the par-4 14th before recording pars the rest of the way.

The 9-under, 72-hole total was the highest winning 72-hole score in the Colonial since 1999. Scott told reporters later it was no accident that scoring was difficult this year.

"It's a tricky course and 10 and 11 are a good chance to get off to a good start on the back nine," Scott said. "There's no gimme birdies on this course."

The victory was worth $1.152 million and 500 FedEx Cup points for the 2013 Masters champion, whose most recent title came last August in The Barclays.

Tied for third at 8-under were Nicholas Thompson (66) and Sweden's Freddie Jacobson (67), while another stroke back were Swede David Langmerth (66), Australian John Senden (68) and Americans Ryan Palmer (67), Brendon Todd (68) and David Toms (70).

Americans Michael Thompson (66), Jimmy Walker (70) and Kevin Chappell (70) shared 10th at 6-under 274 with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (71).

Toms and Matsuyama shared the 54-hole lead with Chad Campbell and Chris Stroud. Campbell closed with a 74 to drop into a tie for 30th at 3-under 277, while Stroud had a 72 and ended up T-14 at 5-under.

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