Scott opens FedEx with win

Associated Press

jersey city, n.j.

Masters champion Adam Scott won The Barclays on Sunday after everyone around him did their best to lose it.

Scott played bogey-free at Liberty National, making only two birdies on the back nine for a 5-under 66 that put him in the mix of a crowded leaderboard at the top. Turns out he was the only one who stayed there.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest,” Scott said after winning the FedEx Cup playoffs opener. “I just played a good round today and I came in and really didn’t think it had a chance. But obviously, things went my way a lot out there.”

Justin Rose had a 25-foot birdie putt for the lead, ran it 5 feet by the cup and three-putted for a bogey for a 68. Kevin Chappell had a two-shot lead through 10 holes, only to play the next seven holes in 7-over par to close with a 76.

Tiger Woods suffered a back spasm on the par-5 13th hole and hooked a fairway metal so far left that it landed in a swamp on the other side of the 15th fairway, leading to bogey. He dropped another shot on the 15th, and then gamely birdied the 16th and 17th holes to pull within one shot of Scott. Woods’ putt from the back of the 18th green was one turn short of falling to force a playoff.

The last challenge came from Gary Woodland, who fell out of the lead when he hit driver on the 13th that ran into the water, leading to bogey. Woodland had birdie chances from inside 10 feet on the final three holes, and missed them all. He closed with a 73.

“I found a way to hang in there and grind it out and gave myself a chance on the back nine on Sunday, which is everything you can ask for,” Woodland said.

Scott finished at 11-under 273 and moved to a career-best No. 2 in the world.

It was the second time Woods has missed a playoff by one shot at Liberty National.

Woods, Woodland and Rose shared second place with Graham DeLaet of Canada, whose 65 matched the low score of the final round. DeLaet will move up to No. 9 in the Presidents Cup standings, and with one week before qualifying ends, is in good shape to make the International team.

Woods had all four rounds in the 60s for the first time in a year on the PGA Tour, though it wasn’t enough. He battled stiffness in his lower back all week, which he attributed to a soft bed in his hotel room — the second straight year he has had back issues from a mattress at this event.

In a brief interview with CBS Sports, he said it was “hypothetical” when asked if he would compete in the Deutsche Bank Championship, the next playoff event that starts Friday on the TPC Boston. The tournament gives its charity money to Woods’ foundation. Woods already missed the AT&T National this year, which also benefits his foundation.

“I just got off and I’m not feeling my best right now,” he said.