AFP/Sydney

CUP OF JOY: Adam Scott of Australia holds the trophy after winning the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney. (Reuters

Australia’s Adam Scott broke through for his first victory at home with a five-shot win in the OneAsia Tour-sanctioned Australian Open yesterday.
Scott only needed a closing par round of 72 to hold off compatriot Stuart Appleby and claim the Open with a four-round total of 15-under 273 at the New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney’s south.
Since turning professional in 2000, Scott, 29, has repeatedly failed to win in Australia, but he was in no danger over Sunday’s final 18 holes holding a comfortable buffer against Appleby.
Appleby carded a three-over 75 to finish the tournament at 10-under 278.
“I always thought I’d get my chance,” Scott said.
“It’s so bizarre, this game, that off the back of such a bad year I finally played good enough to win down here.
“I’ve worked really hard even though I’ve played terrible all year. But it pays off. You’ve got to stick with it.”
Scott won the Byron Nelson Championship in April last year, his sixth US Tour triumph and 14th overall, and Sunday’s trophy ends a 20-month dry spell.
His slump reached its lowest point at this year’s US PGA Championship in August, when he finished 17-over par after two rounds.
Having dived to number 54 on the world rankings, Scott will now find himself back in the top 50 when the latest list is released this week after his Australian Open triumph.
Neither Scott nor playing partner Appleby produced their best on the final day, but they had already done enough earlier in the week to ensure it was a race between two.
Scott split five birdies with five bogeys, but he was never in danger from halfway leader Appleby, who put in his worst round of the tournament with six bogeys and three birdies.
American Bryce Molder, New Zealander Michael Long and Australian Nick O’Hern finished nine strokes behind Scott in joint third place. American two-time major
winner John Daly capped his solid tournament with a final round 71 to finish the week at two-over par 290 and in a tie for 28th place. The OneAsia Tour finishes with the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum in Queensland later this week.