Scott sinks Campbell in play-off

AUSTRALIAN Adam Scott finally won the most disrupted US Tour event in nearly a decade yesterday.

After more torrential overnight rain quickly ruled out any hope of completing even the third round of the Nissan Open in Los Angeles, 36-hole leaders Scott and American Chad Campbell were told to prepare themselves for a sudden death or, more appropriately, a sink or swim play-off commencing at 9.30am.

The difference between winning and losing it was an amazing $345,600 and when the pair went to the 475-yard 18th, Campbell, who hadn't even hit a shot on the practice range all weekend, missed a four-foot putt for a bogey five.

So Scott, who had birdied the last hole of his second round to force the shoot-out, collected $864,000 and moved to a best-ever 7th in the world rankings.

"It was tough for Chad to have two days off and then come out, but a win is a win," said Scott.

The cancellation of the third round meant bitter disappointment for Darren Clarke and Brian Davis, who were only a stroke behind, and for Colin Montgomerie, whose second round 64 (his lowest-ever score in America) had left him two shots back.

The last 36-hole event on the circuit was the 1996 Buick Challenge and only once before in a history going back to 1926 had the Los Angeles Open not been decided over 72 holes.