Adrian Meronk wins Australian Open as playing partner Adam Scott misses out
Adam Scott missed out on a second Australian Open title as playing partner Adrian Meronk surged to victory in Melbourne.
Home favourite Scott, the 2009 champion, held a one-shot lead going into the final round at Victoria GC but – while he struggled to a two-over-par 72 – Meronk shot 66 to win by five strokes.
Scott’s lead was gone within one hole as he made a bogey five and Meronk a birdie, the Pole backing it up immediately to go two shots clear after two holes.
Scott hit back at the fourth and fifth to level but bogeyed seven and eight and again failed to get up and down at the par-five ninth, which Meronk birdied to lead once more.
The deficit narrowed with a Scott birdie at the 12th and a Meronk bogey at the next, but the latter responded at the 15th to lead by two.
He bogeyed the penultimate hole but Scott fared even worse with a double-bogey six, and Meronk finished in style with an eagle – as Scott had done the previous two days – to reach 14 under par.
He said: “I’m super excited and to finish like that on the 18th hole is just unreal.
“I’m so grateful, thank you for all the support and I enjoyed this week so much.”
Scott said: “It was OK, but never really got it going when I needed to get it going. Adrian played great. He played really good.
“I think the costly part for me today was seven, eight and nine.
“On Thursday I didn’t think I’d make the cut this week so it’s nice to be able to turn it around. It would have been nice to win, but to be honest, I’m looking forward to a couple weeks of not playing golf.”
Min Woo Lee was third, a shot behind compatriot Scott on eight under, with Haydn Barron and Spain’s Alejandro Canizares sharing fourth on seven under. Irishman Conor Purcell finished in a tie for seventh at five under after a closing 71.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai won the women’s event, finishing one stroke ahead of South Korea’s Jiyai Shin after shooting 73 on a tricky final day.
England’s Kipp Popert shot 69, 10 strokes better than overnight leader Kurtis Barkley, to win the Australian All Abilities Championship and attributed his success to an Australian delicacy.
“To be the champion here is an absolute honour,” he said. “I had three Tim Tams yesterday so there must be something in those.”
Latest
-
Courses
Six of the toughest holes in golf anywhere in the world
Check out six of the toughest holes in golf
-
Instruction
WATCH: Tommy Fleetwood explains his three-quarter swing
Tommy Fleetwood has an interesting swing style which has caught the attention of many.
-
Equipment
Lucas Glover raises eyebrows with new broomstick putter from L.A.B
Lucas Glover is set to switch the new L.A.B. Golf DF3 broomstick putter into his bag after a brief trial.
-
Videos
WATCH: Dog proves why he’s man’s best friend with refreshments delivery on golf course
Just when you think a man’s best friend couldn’t get any better somebody shows us they can.
-
Equipment
Cameron Young trialling unusual prototype club at The Players
Cameron Young is out to solve a great riddle of the Players Stadium Course in Palm Valley with an unusual but logical addition to his bag.
-
Courses
How much will a round at Glendower Golf Club’s championship course set you back?
Glendower Golf Club is both beautiful and challenging.
-
Equipment
Ping’s G730 irons deliver on promises of more distance and maximum forgiveness
Ping deliver easy-to-hit high-launch distance irons.
-
Videos
WATCH: Golfer defies logic with sand wedge escape filmed in super-satisfying slow-mo
You won’t see anything more satisfying today.
-
News
Rickie Fowler’s driver trials and tribulations show how tough it is for pros to find the right fit
The driver struggles have been real for Rickie Fowler.