JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC RELATED STORIES Johnnie Walker Classic Preview Round 1: High winds cut short play on first day Round 2: Goosen & Campbell share clubhouse lead Round 3: Adam Scott opens six shot lead Round 4: Adam Scott gains wire to wire victory Final Scores & Prize Money Strong winds play havoc ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Lam Masters the art of winning Thongchai on a double hat-trick Thongchai does Indochina double Tour card battle in Cambodia Thongchai gets the job done Report predicts 30% China golf growth GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Geoff Ogilvy leads in Hawaii Pair lead with opening 63s Olazabal warns again complacency Els makes happy Hawaiian landing Amateur: 'Big as a bucket' - true!

Adam Scott gains wire to wire victory

Australia's Adam Scott completed a wire-to-wire victory at the Johnnie Walker Classic on Sunday despite a scare in the final round.

The world number 10 had led from the start of the $2.3 million tournament but he almost suffered a collapse on Sunday and allowed South Africa's Retief Goosen to close to within one shot.

Scott's nerve held, however, and he produced a gritty even-par 72 to finish on an 18-under total of 270, giving him his ninth career title.

"Today was tough in the wind but I did what I needed to do and I'm proud of myself for that," said Scott. "It wasn't looking good at one point, down to one shot."

U.S. Open champion Goosen settled for second place on 15-under after a closing 70 while three men tied for third a further two strokes back.

Scott set a course record with a 63 in the first round and his halfway total of 15-under 129 matched the tournament best for the first 36 holes.

His problems began when he double-bogeyed the 18th while completing his third-round 69 on Sunday morning, reducing his advantage from seven shots to five.

The majority of players were finishing their third rounds early on Sunday after heavy winds forced the abandonment of play in Thursday's first round at Beijing's Pine Valley.

Scott showed signs of wilting under pressure from Goosen in the final round as he dropped shots on the ninth and 10th holes.

But the 24-year-old responded with birdies at the 12th and 13th holes to halt the South African's run.

"To be honest, I was a little concerned after 10. My mind kind of left me there," he said. "But 12th tee, I really struck a beautiful two-iron to three feet. That set me up to win the tournament."

World number five Goosen won the tournament in Perth two years ago but failed to make enough putts to profit from Scott's wobble.

"I had nine pars on the back nine -- missed a lot of putts," shrugged Goosen. "I missed a lot of putts. The chances were there to catch him but I didn't take it."

Scott's victory was worth $388,000 and took his career prize money to more than $7 million.

South Africa's Richard Sterne, former champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Swede Henrik Stenson tied for third on 13-under 275.

World number three and twice champion Ernie Els of South Africa finished joint sixth with Britain's Colin Montgomerie and Australian Brett Rumford a further shot behind.

The event was jointly sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian tours.

April 24, 2005