Golf Betting
Though he was nearly overshadowed by his own caddie, Adam Scott romped to a four-shot victory at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. The Aussie’s performance, perhaps the best of his career, was highlighted by an opening 62 and closing 65 over the venerable South Course at Firestone CC in Akron, Ohio.
Scott’s eighth career PGA Tour win – his first in a WGC event – came with a major sideshow. Caddying for Scott was Steve Williams, recently relieved of his duties as Tiger Woods’ bag man after 12 years and 13 major titles. Their highly public parting served as tabloid-style fodder all week as Woods made his return to competition after a three-month injury break.
Williams only stoked the controversy afterward. “I’ve caddied for 33 years,” said the New Zealander, “and that’s the best win I’ve ever had.”
While the moment may have rendered Williams delusional (or at least vindictive), there’s little arguing the magnitude of the victory for Scott. Long pegged for stardom thanks to his near-flawless swing, Scott has enjoyed solid but underwhelming success since turning pro at age 20.
Now 31, Scott seems to be coming into his own. For that he can thank a switch to a long putter, which he wielded beautifully on the fiery greens of Firestone. He needed no more than 27 strokes in any of his four rounds, finishing fourth in putting for the week.
After distancing himself from challengers including Ryo Ishikawa, Rickie Fowler and Luke Donald on the back nine Sunday, Scott added an exclamation point on the 72nd hole. In no danger of losing his three-shot lead, he nearly holed a 6-iron before rolling in the putt for a 17-under-par total and $1.4 million check.
Fowler and Donald tied second while Ishikawa shared fourth with Jason Day.
As for Woods, his play was so-so after a 12-week break to recover from knee and Achilles injuries suffered at the Masters. Woods opened with a solid 68, but struggled to rounds of 71, 72 and 70 to finish in an eight-way tie for 37th. The former world No. 1 did close strong, however, with birdies on three of his final four holes.
That streak could bode well for Woods’ chances at this week’s PGA Championship, the final major of 2011. Atlanta Athletic Club hosts for the first time since 2001, when David Toms was crowned champion.
Favorites figure to include Scott, of course, as well as U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy; the Northern Irishman quietly surged to a sixth-place tie at Firestone. Others to watch include Donald, still No. 1 in the world, and his fellow Englishman, Lee Westwood (No. 2).
Day, runner-up in the year’s first two majors, also bears watching, as do Fowler, Steve Stricker and usual suspects Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Lucas Glover and defending champion Martin Kaymer.
The course has been lengthened and tightened since Toms terrorized its rain-softened greens with a 15-under-par total in 2001. Scores are predicted to be considerably higher this time around.
(Note: The WGC-Bridgestone was also the official European Tour event this weekend.)
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