7 Dec 2009

Adam Scott breaks through at home

7:19 am on 7 December 2009

The Queensland golf star Adam Scott held off Stuart Appleby to win the Australian Open title by five shots yesterday at the New South Wales golf club, claiming his first title on home soil, and his first tournament win anywhere in over 19 months.

Scott had plummeted from number three to 54th in the world this year, but he cruised to victory by 5 strokes over Appleby who had spreadeagled the field with two sensational opening rounds.

The Perth-based New Zealander Michael Long had his best Australian Open result, sharing third place with the American Bryce Molder and Australia's Nick O'Hern, after a closing round of 70, and the US-based New Zealander Tim Wilkinson tied for 13th.

The Australian PGA championship starts on Thursday Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.