Adam Scott became the fourth multiple winner on The 2002 European Tour International Schedule when he cruised to a record-breaking ten shot victory in the Diageo Scottish PGA Championship on the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.
The 22 year old Australian, who won the Qatar Masters by six shots in March, was even more impressive in the heart of Scotland, starting the final day five shots clear of the field before doubling his advantage to win by a whopping ten shot margin.
In the end a closing 63 for a 26 under par total of 262 gave Scott the first prize of 260,461 euro (£166,660), while Scotland’s Raymond Russell took second on 16 under par 272 after his closing 68, and fellow countryman Sam Torrance took third on 15 under par 273 after his final round 67. The victory moved the Australian from 13th on the Volvo Order of Merit to eighth.
Scott’s record breaking haul was almost as impressive as his run of birdies at the venue for The 2014 Ryder Cup Matches, especially on the par fives where he was an astonishing 22 under par for the week. His 72 hole total was the lowest of the season, his winning margin was the biggest of the season, and his closing 63 was the lowest final round by a winner this season.
"It is an important win, every win is important but it is important for me to win in Britain and in the Continent of Europe, under diffferent conditions," said Scott. "The other times I have won in hot weather and this week was testing especially Friday so I can draw a lot of confidence from that.
"The reason for me to come this week was to win. To play my way back into the top 50 in the world I need to play well because I feel like I should be up there. I haven’t played well over the past few months but I’ve gone about putting it right the right way, worked hard and got a fantastic result this week."
For the chasing pack to have any chance, as well as playing well themselves they had to hope that Scott would have an off day but the eventual champion put paid to that notion with a birdie at the long second and a curling 20 foot putt for birdie three at the fourth.
Another birdie at the par five ninth saw Scott out in 33 and when his incredible haul of birdies on the par fives continued at the 503 yard 12th, he moved six ahead and out of danger. With the pressure off, Scott put on a wonder show over the closing stages, eagling the 16th, birdieing the 17th and eagling the 18th.
As well as claiming the title, Scott’s final round, not equalling the course record because of the preferred lies in operation, was nevertheless good enough to win a £3350 Rolex watch in honour of the lowest round of the week.
Second placed Russell claimed his biggest cheque since he won the 1996 Air France Cannes Open while Torrance was delighted with his finish which guaranteed he would be exempt for the 2003 European Tour season.
Australia’s Scott Gardiner birdied the last hole to take fourth on 12 under par 276 while Marcel Siem of Germany took fifth on 277, his best ever finish in a European Tour event, despite losing his ball at the last on his way to a double bogey seven.
