Rory McIlroy was doubly satisfied after he claimed his first title in over a year with a dramatic one-shot victory at the Australian Open in Sydney.
The Northern Irishman birdied the 18th as Adam Scott bogeyed to bring to an end a miserable run of form. His struggles this year are in sharp contrast to his successes in 2012 when he won five times around the world, including claiming a second major title when he won the US PGA Championship by eight shots.
The former world No 1 began the day four shots behind Australian Scott but a round of 66 highlighted by an eagle on the par-five seventh powered him to victory as the reigning Masters champion faltered.
The overnight leader started and finished with bogeys as he carded a 71, letting slip what would have been his second Australian Open title and the triple crown of Australian golf the Australian Masters, PGA and Open in the same season achieved only once before by Robert Allenby in 2005.
Instead, McIlroy can celebrate a first tournament win since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November.
He said: “Since the end of September I have felt better with how my swing was, I felt that everything was coming together the way I wanted it to.
“It’s been a frustrating year I’ve worked hard and it’s been a process, trying to get back to winning golf tournaments again.
“It was nice to be able to do it today.”
He added on Channel Seven: “I wanted to get a win by the end of the season and finally I have been able to get one.
“But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top. Adam is a phenomenal golfer. I feel a bit sorry I was the one to ruin the triple crown for him.”
Scott did not attempt to hide his devastation, saying: “I felt I did everything right. I’m gutted, I felt I’d never have a better chance to win the Aussie Open.”
John Senden, the 2006 champion, equalled McIlroy’s six-under 66 to finish third at 11 under.