Golf: Adam Scott hangs on to world No 1 spot

Adam Scott celebrates in Texas. Picture: AP

McIlroy moves up from 10th to sixth following his one-shot win over Ireland’s Shane Lowry at Wentworth.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson has climbed to second, leapfrogging Tiger Woods, after finishing joint-seventh behind McIlroy, but that was not enough to overtake No 1 Adam Scott.

The Australian could have lost top spot after just a week if he had finished outside the top 13 in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, but ended up beating Jason Dufner in a play-off at Colonial in Forth Worth. “It’s so satisfying in so many ways to get it done,” Scott said. “It’s a good feeling, and maybe some validation.”

Only days after officially overtaking injured Tiger Woods at No. 1, Scott bogeyed four of his first nine holes in the first round at Colonial. Midway through his final round, Scott had a double bogey that dropped him three strokes off the lead.

“Maybe I added a little pressure for myself, trying to play like a No 1. But I think the important thing was I realised that didn’t mean playing perfect, and I certainly didn’t play perfect all week,” Scott said. “But the way you come back and get it done, and I felt like I certainly played like one of the best players in the world out there on the back nine.”

McIlroy, meanwhile, has targeted more major titles after his surprise victory, although he admits he is completely in the dark about next month’s US Open venue. “I can only go on what I’ve read and what I’ve heard about Pinehurst because I’ve never been there,” added McIlroy, who won his first major by eight shots in the US Open at Congressional in 2011.

“No rough for a US Open is going to be very different. I hear it’s going to be a long, long golf course (7,562 yards), which I’m looking forward to. I don’t mind that at all, getting driver in the hand, and a long golf course would suit me.”