Adam Scott has added to the golden year for Australian golf by winning his first United States PGA Tour event in almost four years.

Scott took out the Genesis Invitational, beating off some of the world’s best players including world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and Presidents Cup star Matt Kuchar, at Riviera in Los Angeles today. It is his first win on the US tour since March, 2016.

He joins Cameron Smith (Hawaii), Marc Leishman (San Diego), Wade Ormsby (Hong Kong), Lucas Herbert (Dubai) and Min Woo Lee (13th Beach) as the sixth Australian winner of 2020 on the professional tours of the world.

The 39-year-old Scott will be back into the top 10 in the world, at No. 6, from this week’s No. 14 ranking after today’s win.

He won the Australian PGA Championship last December to break a three-year winning drought, and said later that on a personal and professional level, this was huge. “It’s a big step for both. Whatever point I’m at in my career, I hdn’t won for three years, and this feels very special.’’

Scott shot a closing one-under par 70 after starting the final round in a share of the lead at 10-under with McIlroy and Kuchar. But both those players who joined Scott in the final group faded, with McIlroy imploding with a triple bogey seven at the par-four fifth hole.

The Australian made a four-metre birdie putt at the 13th to take the lead outright and then another birdie from three metres at the 17th, complete with fist pumps, had his almost unassailable.

He went to the 18th with a two-shot lead and neither of his playing partners threatening. He killed his drive and then wedged on to the green at the par-four finishing hole, then took the walk up to the green through that famous ampitheatre knowing that he was the winner. Two putts later he had a two-shot victory.

Scott has now won 14 times in official events on the US Tour. His one unofficial win, ruled as such because it was shortened to two days by torrential rain, was at this same event and venue back in 2005.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve loved this place from day one and it was tough out there today but the crowd is incredible. I feel like they’re on my side believe it or not. I’m stoked with this.”