Golf: Australian Adam Scott hailed a "dream" victory after cruising to an unprecedented third Singapore Open title on Monday. The 30-year-old returned to the Sentosa Golf Club early this morning to complete the last 10 holes of his fourth round after thunderstorms caused a five-and-a-half-hour suspension of play on Sunday.
Graeme McDowell posted a one-under 70 for a share of third place with Sweden's Rikard Karlberg (67) to boost his chances in the Race to Dubai. With current leader Martin Kaymer only managing to finish 10th, McDowell cut the German's advantage on the European Tour's money list and the Northern Irishman has the chance to gain further ground at the UBS Hong Kong Open this week.
Scott's victory at the Barclays Singapore Open today has taken him back into the world's top 20.
The Australian leaps from 41st to 20th, while McDowell's joint-third place finish lifts him one spot to ninth, just above fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy.
Scott resumed with a comfortable three-stroke lead over the rest of the field but saw that disappear with dropped shots on the 10th and 14th holes.
However, he fought back in his closing four holes with two birdies - including a fine putt from 10 feet on the 18th - to finish with a three-under-68 and become the first player to win the tournament on three occasions following previous wins in 2005 and 2006.
"It's a new experience for me as it's the first time I've won three times. I'm very proud to win the National Open and these are the kind of events that you dream of winning when you're growing up as a kid," said Scott.
"I haven't been putting my best lately and the demons started creeping in a little bit on the back nine. But fortunately I squashed them and made a good putt on 15. That gave me a little buffer and calmed me down for the last three."
The win was Scott's seventh on the European Tour and first since winning the Qatar Masters in 2008.
"It feels great. It's a relief to finally get finished," added the former world number three. "It's been a long week and it was a bit of a grind this morning. It's not an easy back nine to come out and play and I didn't make it look that easy either, so I'm just happy to be done and be the winner again."
Denmark's Anders Hansen shot a 68 to finish second - three shots behind Scott - although he could have threatened a closer finish had he holed a birdie putt on the 15th.
"I thought if I had holed that one I would only be one behind with three to go and then you never know. But I missed it so the chance was gone," he said.
"Adam is a great player and he thoroughly deserves his victory."
Last year's champion Ian Poulter saw his challenge fade away with a disappointing finish.
The Englishman had started the day three shots behind Scott but dropped a shot on the 12th before double-bogeying the par-four 15th to finish with a two-over 73 and in a tie for sixth place - six shots adrift of the winner.
World Rankings
1 Lee Westwood 8.70pts, 2 Tiger Woods 8.25, 3 Martin Kaymer 7.81, 4 Phil Mickelson 7.61, 5 Steve Stricker 6.94, 6 Jim Furyk 6.87, 7 Paul Casey 6.16, 8 Luke Donald 5.90, 9 Graeme McDowell 5.56, 10 Rory McIlroy 5.53, 11 Matt Kuchar 5.22, 12 Ernie Els 5.13, 13 Dustin Johnson 4.97, 14 Ian Poulter 4.56, 15 Francesco Molinari 4.49, 16 Hunter Mahan 4.33, 17 Edoardo Molinari 4.32, 18 Retief Goosen 4.28, 19 Zach Johnson 3.99, 20 Adam Scott 3.96
Other leading Europeans:
21 Pádraig Harrington, 27 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 28 Justin Rose, 29 Ross Fisher, 39 Robert Karlsson, 42 Peter Hanson, 47 Martin Laird, 48 Henrik Stenson, 53 Alvaro Quiros, 66 Rhys Davies, 69 Fredrik Andersson Hed, 70 Danny Willett, 73 Brian Davis, 74 Sergio Garcia, 77 Anders Hansen, 78 Simon Dyson, 80 Soren Kjeldsen, 81 Oliver Wilson, 84 Stephen Gallacher, 86 Matteo Manassero, 88 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 89 David Horsey, 95 Chris Wood, 97 Raphael Jacquelin, 100 Gregory Bourdy