Golf Results 2013 December 01

Results

In Sydney, a resurgent Rory McIlroy won his first and only victory of the 2013 season thus far when he beat local favourite Adam Scott at the Australian Open.

The Northern Irishman edged ahead of Scott, who was overnight leader, by a single stroke to clinch the title. Scott opened and closed the final round with bogeys, slipping just behind McIlroy and never quite managing to regain his lead despite several opportunities.

The tournament was difficult to call, right until the last hole when McIlroy was still anticipating a playoff. However, Scott's bogey on the final hole allowed the Ulsterman to sink his victory putt.

The two players, who both have world number one ambitions, faced off in warm summer weather on Sunday – while Scott had his share of bogeys, McIlroy's approach shot on the 16th hole found the bunker and robbed him of a birdie. Expressing his surprise and elation at winning the tournament, McIlroy proved to golf fans and competitors alike that he still has the makings of a superb international champion.

The European Tour travelled to South Africa last week, where local favourite Charl Schwartzel was victorious at the co-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship on Sunday.

The former US Masters Champion led the tournament overnight, starting the final round with a two-stroke advantage. However, Richard Finch of the United Kingdom set his eyes on the trophy early in the final round and was level-pegging with Schwartzel after just three holes.

As the prospect of losing to Finch on home soil became very real, Schwartzel returned fire with three birdies, against two more birdies from Finch which gave the South African a one-stroke lead as the back nine beckoned. As Schwartzel continued his fine form on the home stretch, Finch lost his energy and sacrificed three shots to trail behind the champion by four shots.

Schwartzel lifted the trophy victoriously, just a week after his final-round disappointment during last week's South African Open.