Reuters
Sunday, January 21

JOHANNESBURG -- Young Adam Scott birdied the final hole for his first Tour victory on Sunday, capturing the $735,900 Alfred Dunhill Championship.

	Adam Scott dropped a 3-footer on No. 18 to claim his first professional victory.

Scott, who shares coach Butch Harmon with Tiger Woods, shot a 3-under 69 on the last day for a final score of 267 to fight off a strong challenge from fellow 20-year-old Justin Rose.

Rose had to endure a lengthy wait before being given confirmation of his second-place finish at 20-under 268 after he also scored a final-round 69.

European Tour senior referee Andy McFee had spotted what he thought was a breach of the rules by Rose on the climactic 18th hole. Rose's tee shot landed in the fairway bunker and he was thought to have tested the condition of the hazard in breach of rules.

"I noticed a strange movement of Justin's right foot, but his left foot never moved at all and that's what convinced me that it was just a nervous twitch," McFee said.

Scott and Rose dominated the last two rounds of the championship in their duel for the lead.

Scott once surged as much as four shots clear of the field in the final round. But a pair of three-putts after the turn threw the tournament wide open.

Both golfers birdied the par-5 16th to be level at 20-under.

On the 18th green, Rose narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie putt, while Scott made no mistake with his 3-footer for the birdie and victory.

"I've led a few tournaments and haven't sealed it, so it was nice to do that this time," said Scott, who was in constant contact by telephone with Harmon this week.

"Butch told me before the round not to go out there and try and win the tournament, but just to play a round of golf. That helped me to focus on what I had to do," Scott said.

Rose was pleased to put behind him two dismal years during which he has missed a string of cuts after turning professional following his dramatic fourth-place finish as an amateur in the 1998 British Open.

"I'm proud of the way I performed," Rose said. "I hung in there and felt comfortable coming down the stretch. I feel more confident now."

Nick Faldo and Dean Robertson were in third place, one shot behind Rose.

The European Tour stays in South Africa next week for the South African Open, being played at the East London Golf Club.