Scott relieved to shake home bogy

An emotional Adam Scott expressed joy and relief after his breakthrough victory in
the Australian Open.

One of the country's best players over the past decade, former world No.3 Scott's
inability to win on home soil had been an ongoing source of frustration.
But the 29-year-old won't have to answer any more questions about that after he
claimed the title by five strokes from 2001 champion Stuart Appleby at the tough NSW
links on Sunday.
Five-time Open winner and mentor Greg Norman presented Scott with the Stonehaven Cup
and the Queenslander gazed almost in disbelief at the trophy as he gave his
acceptance speech.
The gifted Scott was coming off his worst year since turning professional in 2000
and his ranking had slid to No.54, but he can now put his name alongside the likes
of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Peter Thomson and Norman as an Australian Open
champion.
"I feel very, very honoured to be on this trophy with such a great list of
champions," he said.
"This is very, very special to me to win here. This one feels extra special.
"I've struggled through this year.
"This is going to be very sweet and something I will treasure for the rest of my
career."
A final round even-par 72 saw Scott finish on 15-under 273, while Appleby started
just two shots behind but lacked the sharpness of earlier rounds and never really
challenged as he shot a 75.
There was a three-way tie for third, with Nick O'Hern (74), American Bryce Molder
(68) and New Zealander Michael Long (70) all finishing on six-under par.
Nationwide Tour player of the year Michael Sim was the only player to finish all
four rounds under par, shooting 71-70-71-71 to end the week five-under and in
outright sixth, and John Daly finished equal-28th on two-over in an encouraging
week.
But it was Scott's day at the beautiful La Perouse course.
As he walked off the 18th green, Scott took off his cap, looked to the sky and
raised both arms in triumph as he finally got the monkey off his back in Australia.
"I always thought I'd get my chance," he said.
"It's so bizarre, this game, that off the back of such a bad year I finally played
good enough to win down here.
"I've worked really hard even though I've played terrible all year. But it pays off.
You've got to stick with it."
At one stage the Queenslander held a seven-stroke lead, but bogeys on the 13th and
14th allowed Appleby to pull within four shots with four holes remaining.
When Scott missed an 18-inch par putt on the 16th his lead was just three and the
heat was well and truly on.
But a par on 17 and a birdie on 18 gave Scott the breakthrough victory.