PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, 30 March 2004 — Adam Scott lifted The Players Championship title on Sunday despite making a bogey at the 18th hole after hitting his approach shot into the water.

The 23-year-old Australian had a two-stroke lead going to the last and struck an iron off the tee. But then, from 212 yards, he found water and needed to sink a 10-foot putt for a bogey five to scramble a one-shot win.

Scott claimed his second PGA Tour victory thanks to a closing two-under-par 70 which gave him a 12-under total of 276. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington fired a 66 for 277 to finish second at the TPC at Sawgrass for the second year in a row.

Kenny Perry (71), Phil Mickelson (71) and Frank Lickliter II (72) shared third place on 280, eight under. Jay Haas, 50, was tied for sixth on 281 with Kevin Sutherland and Jerry Kelly in the tournament widely regarded as the fifth “major”.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods was unable to mount a last-day challenge and finished tied for 16th on 285 following a one-over 73. Defending champion Davis Love III also had a 73 and was joint 33rd on 288.

Starting the day with a two-shot advantage, Scott was never seriously challenged until his last-hole blunder. He reached the turn in a three-under 33 and at that point was four strokes clear of Mickelson and Perry.

Scott bogeyed the 10th and 14th but also had birdies at the 11th and 12th.

For the most part, he kept his eyes off the leaderboards out on the course.

Harrington, who was waiting for the outcome on the practice range when Scott was playing the 18th, shared second place here last year. If not for three bogeys in the first five holes, the result would have been different for the Irishman.

Last-Hole Birdie Earns Park First Major Title

In Rancho Mirage, California, Grace Park won her first major title after holding off fellow South Korean Aree Song, 17, by one stroke in a spectacular finish to the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Sunday.

Song, who tied for ninth here four years ago, was two strokes behind playing the 18th. But she hit her second shot over the lake at the 526-yard hole and sank a 30-foot eagle putt for a two-under 70 and a total of 278, 10 under.

Park responded coolly. She laid up with her second shot, struck a wedge to six feet and rolled home her birdie putt for a 69 and 277 at Mission Hills Country Club.

Australia’s Karrie Webb, who also birdied the last for a 69, was third on 279. Michelle Wie, the 14-year-old prodigy from Hawaii, came fourth.

The six-foot tall teenager returned a 71 for 281 to equal the best result by an amateur in this event, set by Caroline Keggi in 1988.

Park, 25, and Song were tied for the lead overnight and it turned into a battle royal on a day of perfect conditions.

Song led by two at the turn but Park reeled off four birdies in a row from the ninth to take a two-shot advantage.

Park moved from South Korea to the US before she reached her teens in order to pursue her golfing dream. Se was a gifted amateur, winning all the major titles, including the 1998 US Women’s Amateur Championship.

For Song, making her fifth appearance in the championship but her first as a professional, it was a mixture of delight and disappointment.

For Wie, who tied for ninth a year ago, it was another stunning performance. Playing in the penultimate group, she almost holed out for an eagle two at the first and was in contention for most of the day.

World No. 1 Annika Sorenstam closed with a 69 to tie for 13th on 285, three under.