1 Dec 2013

McIlroy wins Australian Open

6:59 pm on 1 December 2013

Rory McIlroy has denied Adam Scott Australian golf's Triple Crown, with a tense and dramatic one-stroke Australian Open victory at Royal Sydney.

McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to close with a final-round six under par 66 to steal the Stonehaven Cup from the Queenslander, who bogeyed the last hole, after leading the tournament from the first morning.

Scott had started the day with a four-stroke buffer and never trailed until making a meal of the 72nd hole of the championship.

McIlroy finished at 18 under par overall, while Scott closed with a one under 71 - he missed five putts as his short game deserted him in the last round.

The best-placed New Zealander was Wellington's Mark Brown, who tied for sixth with a final-round three under 69 - narrowly missing out on qualifying for the British Open.

Brown mixed eight birdies up with 2 bogeys and a triple bogey on the 12th.

Robert Allenby in 2005 is the only player to win the Australian Masters, PGA and Open titles in the same season.