FORT WORTH -- Adam Scott was a late entry into Colonial because he wanted to play while ranked No. 1 in the world.
Scott will stay on top after a comeback victory at Hogan's Alley. He made a 7-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff Sunday to beat Jason Dufner.
"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 added a little pressure for myself, trying to play like a No. 1. But I think the important thing was I realized 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."
The Australian certainly did in with consecutive birdies in the playoff.
The major champions parred No. 18 to start the playoff before matching birdies at the 17th hole. Dufner, who won the PGA Championship last year, hit his approach pin high on 17 to 4½ feet, but 2013 Masters champ Scott drained a 14-foot birdie before Dufner putted.
Dufner, who made a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18 in regulation, slid a 40-footer past when he and Scott played the 18th hole for the second time during the playoff. Scott then made the 7-footer for his 11th PGA Tour victory, 5½ weeks after the 33-year-old Scott got married.
"It's tough to beat him. He's a great player. It's tough to concentrate, he's so good looking, too," Dufner said. "I thought maybe I could sneak one in there on 17, but he topped me."
Scott and Dufner both shot 4-under 66 to finish at 9 under, the highest winning score at Colonial since 1999. They started the final round part of a seven-way tie for 11th place, but only two strokes behind a quartet of leaders.
To stay No. 1 in the world ranking, Scott had to be in the top 13 at Colonial after Henrik Stenson finished in a five-way tie for seventh place in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The victory at Colonial, which came with $1,152,000 and a plaid jacket, made Scott the first player to win all four PGA Tour events in Texas. He is the 15th to win both the Byron Nelson Championship (2008) and the Colonial in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The 11th playoff in Colonial history was the first since 2009, and the longest since Jim Colbert beat Fuzzy Zoeller on the sixth extra hole in 1983.
Nicholas Thompson (66) and Freddie Jacobson (67) tied for third at 8 under.
David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 4-under 66 to finish in a five-way tie for fifth and earned $216,960.
Bryce Molder (Conway) was 2 over Sunday and finished tied for 45th with five others. He made $18,304.
Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had a 2-over 72 to finish the tournament with an even-par 280, good enough for a six-way tie for 51st and $15,061.
EUROPEAN PGA
McIlroy rallies in England
VIRGINIA WATER, England -- Rory McIlroy put aside the anguish in his private life to win the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.
The double Major winner came from seven shots back at the start of the final round to shoot a 6-under 66 and win by 1 stroke with an overall 14-under 274 on the Wentworth course.
It is McIlroy's first European Tour success since December 2012 and also ends a run of eight second-place finishes in 11 events this season.
McIlroy's 12th victory worldwide comes four days after the 25-year old Northern Irishman confirmed the breakdown in his relationship with Danish-born tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.
Ireland's Shane Lowry birdied the last hole for a 68 and finished second on 13 under.
LPGA
Korda goes on birdie run
MOBILE, Ala. -- Jessica Korda won the Airbus LPGA Classic on Sunday for her second victory of the year, birdieing four of the last five holes to break out of a tight pack.
Korda made a breaking 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke victory over Anna Nordqvist.
Also the winner in the season-opening event in the Bahamas, Korda played the back nine in 6-under 30 to finish at 20-under 268 on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Magnolia Grove complex.
Nordqvist also birdied the 18th and finished with a 69.
Michelle Wie, 18-year-old Charley Hull and 44-year-old Catriona Matthew tied for third at 18 under. Wie and Hull shot 67, and Matthew had a 69.
Second-ranked Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 71 to tie for 10th at 15 under. She needed a solo third or higher to take the top spot in the world from Inbee Park.
CHAMPIONS
Montgomerie wins by four
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Colin Montgomerie won the Senior PGA Championship on Sunday, finishing with a 6-under 65 for a four-stroke victory over 64-year-old Tom Watson.
It marked Montgomerie's first victory as senior, his first victory in seven years and his first in an official event in the United States. He also claimed a senior major in his fifth attempt, something he didn't accomplish in 71 majors in his regular tour days.
The 51-year-old Scot finished at 13-under 261 at Harbor Shores. The victory was his first since he took the 2007 European Open for his 31st European Tour title.
Jay Haas and Bernhard Langer tied for third at 7 under. Haas had a 67, and Langer shot 70.
WEB.COM
Gardiner ties for second
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Byron Smith won the Rex Hospital Open on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title, closing with a 5-under 66 for a four-stroke victory
The 33-year-old former Pepperdine player finished at 16-under 268 at TPC Wakefield Plantation and earned $112,500 to increase his season total to $139,061.
Harold Varner III finished with a 70 to tie for second with Australia's Scott Gardiner (Farmington) at 12 under, earning $55,000.
Sports on 05/26/2014