Adam Scott admitted some competitive rust may have cost him a chance of victory on Sunday as American Dustin Johnson stamped his recent return to golf with a huge victory in the World Golf Championships event in Miami.
Scott started the final round a distant eight shots off the pace but threatened to make a run at the title when he'd halved the deficit through nine holes.
But after an untimely bogey on the 11th hole the 34-year-old tried to attack the tough course, a decision that failed to pay dividends as the Queenslander finished in a tie for fourth, five shots behind Johnson.
Scott was playing his first tournament since the Australian Masters in mid-December last year.
"I tried to challenge the course a bit (after the 11th hole bogey). Maybe I didn't need to but I tried to be aggressive, and felt like I scrambled much of the rest of the round," Scott said.
"Maybe lack of competition just didn't get me over the line on the back nine today when I could have snuck in and posted a number.
"Obviously you need a few more shots on tour than you do back at home with the boys, so I have a few things to work on.
"It wasn't pretty golf like the first 10 holes and I might have made an error there, especially as the leaders came back a little."
Johnson started the final round five shots off the lead but shot a three-under 69 to get to nine-under and overhaul the previously steadfast JB Holmes.
Holmes had led from an opening round 62 but faltered when it mattered, shooting 75 in the final round to be second alone at eight-under.
Masters champion Bubba Watson, who led the tournament through the middle stages of the final round before a back-nine collapse, shot 71 to finish third at seven-under.
Scott's 69 tied him with Henrik Stenson (72) in fourth at four-under and was enough to ensure he jumped back over compatriot Jason Day to world No.4.
The victory is Johnson's second WGC title and ninth US PGA tour win and comes just a month into the 30-year-old's return after a six-month absence to deal with what he called personal binge drinking issues.
"I knew I was really good. I just knew there was something that I was missing that could make me great," Johnson said of stepping away from the game.
"I've really been working hard, and I think it's showing right now. "
Day, who will be world No.5, finished with a 71 to join John Senden (74) as the next best Australians in a tie for 31st at three-over while Greg Chalmers (+7), Geoff Ogilvy (+11) and Steven Jeffress (+12) finished at the back end of the field.
Scott was also using a short putter for the first time in four years and confirmed he would keep the club in the bag for next week's US PGA tour event in Tampa after finishing 12th in strokes gained putting for the tournament.
"That's the plan. I think I putted very well overall and feel very comfortable with where I'm at with it," he said.
"I've got to test it the next couple weeks again, and hopefully it keeps improving and I'll have a red-hot putter by the Masters."
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