Adam Scott keeps firm grip on No. 1 ranking with win at Colonial

Adam Scott was a late entry into the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial because he wanted to play while ranked No. 1 in the world.

Scott will stay on top after a comeback victory at Hogan’s Alley in Fort Worth, Texas. He made a seven-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff Sunday to beat Jason Dufner.

“It’s so satisfying in so many ways to get it done,” Scott said. “It’s a good feeling, and maybe some validation.”

Only days after officially overtaking injured Tiger Woods at No. 1, Scott bogeyed four of his first nine holes in the first round at Colonial. Midway through his final round, Scott had a double bogey that dropped him three strokes off the lead.

“Maybe added a little pressure for myself, trying to play like a No. 1. But I think the important thing was I realized that didn’t mean playing perfect, and I certainly didn’t play perfect all week,” Scott said. “But the way you come back and get it done, and I felt like I certainly played like one of the best players in the world out there on the back nine.”

The Australian certainly did in with consecutive birdies in the playoff.

The major champions parred No. 18 to start the playoff before matching birdies at the 17th hole. Dufner, who won the PGA Championship last year, hit his approach pin high on 17 to within 4 1/2 feet, but 2013 Masters champ Scott drained a 14-foot birdie before Dufner putted.

Dufner, who made a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18 in regulation, slid a 40-footer past when he and Scott played the 18th hole for the second time during the playoff. Scott then made the seven-footer for his 11th PGA Tour victory, 5 1/2 weeks after the 33-year-old Scott got married.

“It’s tough to beat him. He’s a great player. It’s tough to concentrate, he’s so good looking, too,” Dufner said. “I thought maybe I could sneak one in there on 17, but he topped me.”

Scott and Dufner both shot four-under 66 to finish at nine under, the highest winning score at Colonial since 1999. They started the final round part of a seven-way tie for 11th place, but only two strokes behind a quartet of leaders.

To stay No. 1 in the world ranking, Scott had to be in the top 13 at Colonial after Henrik Stenson finished in a five-way tie for seventh place in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The win at Colonial, which came with $1,152,000 and a plaid jacket, made Scott the first player to win all four PGA Tour events in Texas. He is the 15th to win both the Byron Nelson Championship (2008) and the Colonial in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Nicholas Thompson (66) and Freddie Jacobson (67) tied for third at eight under.

David Toms, in the final group, led at nine under when he made his turn. But he had three bogeys over the next five holes and finished with a 70.

Toms ended up at seven under with Brendon Todd (68), who last week got his first PGA Tour victory at the Nelson. Jimmy Walker, No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings, shot a 70 was tied for 10th at 6 under.

::

Colin Montgomerie won the Senior PGA Championship, finishing with a six-under 65 for a four-stroke victory over 64-year-old Tom Watson at Benton Harbor, Mich.

It marked Montgomerie’s first victory as senior, his first win in seven years and his first in an official event in the United States. He also claimed a senior major in his fifth attempt, something he didn’t accomplish in 71 majors in his regular tour days.

The 51-year-old Scot finished at 13-under 261 at Harbor Shores. The victory was his first since he took the 2007 European Open for his 31st European Tour title.

Watson also closed with a 65. Jay Haas (67) and Bernhard Langer (70) tied for third at seven under.

::

Jessica Korda won the Airbus LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala., for her second victory of the year, birdieing four of the last five holes to break out of a tight pack.

Korda made a breaking 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke victory over Anna Nordqvist.

Also the winner in the season-opening event in the Bahamas, Korda played the back nine in 6-under 30 to finish at 20-under 268 on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove complex.

Nordqvist also birdied the 18th and finished with a 69.

Michelle Wie, 18-year-old Charley Hull and 44-year-old Catriona Matthew tied for third at 18 under. Wie and Hull shot 67, and Matthew had a 69.