Adam Scott wins the Honda Classic for first PGA Tour title since 2014

Adam Scott won the Honda Classic and put to rest any notion that his career would suffer with a short putter.

In a tight duel with Sergio Garcia for the entire round Sunday at PGA National, Scott stayed out of the water and closed with an even-par 70 for a one-shot victory. It was his first title since Colonial in May 2014, and his first time winning with a conventional putter since the 2010 Singapore Open.

The timing of his victory also was a big statement for the 35-year-old Australian.

Scott won in just his third start since a new rule took effect that bans the anchored stroke typically used for the long putter that he had the past five years. Scott switched back for good at the Presidents Cup. This was his 10th start since then, and only twice has he finished out of the top 10.

Scott opened with a 10-foot birdie that settled him and led by no more than two shots until back-to-back bogeys around the turn. But it was a two-man race all day, and Scott seized control when Garcia missed a short par putt on No. 11 and Scott hit a fairway bunker shot to within two feet for birdie on the next hole.

Unlike Saturday, when Scott took a quadruple-bogey on the par-three 15th with two shots into the water, he stayed dry around the treacherous finish at PGA National.

The only nervous moment was on the 16th hole when Scott had a one-shot lead.

Garcia hit a poor pitch and was headed for a bogey. Scott left his 40-foot birdie attempt 10 feet short, and the par putt stopped short of the hole to keep the margin at one heading to the raucous 17th, a par-three over the water.

Scott’s seven-iron covered the flag, and it was no small relief for him when he saw it hit the green. Garcia made another bogey, and Scott had a two-shot lead going to the 18th, where a par was enough for him to win for the 12th official time on the PGA Tour.

“I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in. Fortunately, it was enough at the end,” he said.

Scott finished at nine-under 271 and moved back into the world top 10 (No. 9) for the first time in a year.

Justin Thomas closed with a 69 and tied for third with Blayne Barber (70), four shots behind. Graeme McDowell had a 69 to finish another shot behind, while Rickie Fowler lost momentum on the back nine for a 71 and joined Vijay Singh at three-under 277.

Thompson routs field at LPGA Thailand

American Lexi Thompson won her seventh LPGA title after a final-round 68 that completed a six-stroke victory over In Gee Chun of South Korea in the final round of the LPGA Thailand at the par-72 course at the Siam Country Club in Chonburi.

The 21-year-old from Florida hit an eagle on the 10th to go along with three birdies and a lone bogey for a 20-under-par total of 268 to become the first American winner of the tournament.

Chun, winner of the US Women Open last year, added four bogeys to her eight biridies on the final day to end with a 70 and a four-day total of 14 under 274.

No. 25-ranked Jessica Korda of the United States fired eight birdies for a 64 and a 13 under total of 275, giving her a share of third place along with defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea, who signed off with a 70.

Oosthuizen captures Perth International

Louis Oosthuizen made his first tournament appearance in Australia a winning one, shooting a one-under 71 for a one-stroke victory at the Perth International.

The former British Open champion, who led by three strokes going into the final round, finished with a 16-under total of 272 in the tournament sanctioned by the European and Australasian PGA tours.

Alexander Levy of France was second after a 66, followed by Australian golfer Jason Scrivener, whose 69 left him in third place, two strokes behind.

American Peter Uihlein (71) and France’s Gregory Bourdy (66) were tied for fourth, three behind Oosthuizen.

Shin prevails at Australian Ladies Masters

Former No. 1 Jiyai Shin has added the Australian Ladies Masters to her career victory total after shooting a four-under 69 for a three-stroke win at Royal Pines in Gold Coast.

The South Korean, who has twice won the Women’s British Open, led by two strokes after the third round and completed a 14-under total of 278. England’s Holly Clyburn shot a closing 70 to finish in second place.

Tied for third were Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark (68) and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth (71), four behind Shin. Katie Burnett of the United States shot 71 and was tied for fifth, six behind.

Canadian Brooke Henderson, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 11, shot 75 and finished at five under, nine strokes behind and tied for eighth.