Adam Scott storms home to claim first PGA play-off, moves to career high world number two

 Adam Scott lines up a putt at The Barclays play-off
PHOTO: Concentration's key ... Adam Scott has added another PGA trophy to his growing cabinet with victory in the first play-off event in New Jersey. (AFP/Getty Images: Darren Carroll)
MAP: United States
Masters champion Adam Scott closed with a bogey-free 5-under 66 to steal victory in the opening US PGA Tour play-off event on Monday (AEST).

At 11-under, Scott was an early clubhouse leader at the Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey with a host of big name challengers hunting him down, but no one could reel in the Queenslander.

His second win of the year pushed him to the top of the play-off standings with three events left and to a career high number two in the world rankings.

Scott finished one clear of world number one Tiger Woods (69), US Open champion Justin Rose (68), Canadian Graham DeLaet (65) and American Gary Woodland (73).

Woods battled a bad back all week and went within a whisker of a birdie on the last. Rose three-putted the final green from 25-feet for bogey and Woodland had a 10-footer to force a play-off but missed left.

British Open champion Phil Mickelson (65) and fellow Americans Jim Furyk and DA Points shared sixth at 9-under.

Scott finished well over an hour before the final pairings and figured his total would not be enough, especially after missing a 20-footer for birdie on the 18th.

But his birdies on five, six, seven, 14 and 16 saw him through.

"I can't believe it to be honest," Scott said.

"I played a good round today and came in and really didn't think I had a chance but obviously things went my way a lot out there and I'm so happy.

"No bogeys is always a good thing.

"I took advantage of a few good shots and the couple of poor ones I hit I managed to scramble and save par.

"That always adds up to a pretty good score."

Scott dedicated his 10th US PGA tour win and 21st worldwide triumph to new niece Olivia who was born yesterday to sister Casie and brother-in-law and coach Brad Malone.

Mixed day for the Aussies

While they did not threaten the leaders, Greg Chalmers (2-under, T37) and Stuart Appleby (1-under, T41) did just enough to push inside the top-100 on the season-long points list to qualify for next week's event.

Chalmers moved to 93rd and Appleby to 96th but it is the end of the road for Aaron Baddeley (Even, T43) John Senden (four-over, T62), Geoff Ogilvy (five-over, 65th) and Steven Bowditch (cut).

Baddeley's finish was hard to watch, as he bogeyed the final three holes to shoot 77 and miss next week by a single place at 101st.

Ogilvy ends his season at 104th, Senden 109th and Bowditch 124th.

Jason Day was the next best Australian behind Scott at 4-under in a tie for 25th, leaving him at 16th on the points list while Matt Jones rounded out the Australian tilt at 3-under in a tie for 33rd leaving him 37th in the standings heading into next week.

Meanwhile Bronson La'Cassie continued a huge day for Australian golf, winning on the secondary Web.com Tour to clinch a PGA Tour card for next season.

AAP