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Scott makes most of break in rain

Australia's Adam Scott drives in the rain during the second round of the Nissan Open on Sunday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Australia's Adam Scott drives in the rain during the second round of the Nissan Open on Sunday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Adam Scott rarely feels a sense of urgency in the second round, but this was different. It was Sunday in the Nissan Open, with clouds gathering on the Los Angeles horizon, and he was one shot out of the lead.

“I did think this may be the last putt of the week here,” Scott said. “So I better make it count.”

Scott rolled in a 20-foot birdie from the fringe on his final hole for a 5-under 66, completing the second round that he began Friday. That left him at 9-under 133 with Chad Campbell, who has not hit a shot in two days.

Ultimately, all that did was create even more chaos at Riviera Country Club.

The PGA Tour planned to begin the third round late Sunday afternoon with hopes of finishing 54 holes Monday, even though the forecast is for heavy rain. If the third round can’t be completed, the Nissan Open would revert to a 36-hole tournament.

Tiger Woods was only two shots behind until he butchered the 18th. From the right rough, he tried to play a fade around the trees, but the ball plugged into the left side of the hill framing the green. He flopped his pitch to 8 feet, and then three-putted for a double bogey that gave him a 70, leaving him four shots behind.

Champions Tour

Former European Ryder Cup captain Mark James won his second Champions Tour title, birdieing the final two holes for a two-stroke victory over Hale Irwin and Tom Wargo in The ACE Group Classic in Naples, Fla.

James closed with a 6-under 66 for a 13-under 203 total at The Club at TwinEagles. Wargo finished with a 66, and Irwin had a 68. Second-round leader Mike McCullough (71) tied for fourth at 10 under with Jerry Pate (68) and Mike Reid (68).

Curtis Strange, playing in his first event on the 50-and-over tour, shot a 74 to tie for 49th at 3 over. He had a double bogey on No. 18 after hitting into the water.

European PGA Tour

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee successfully defended his Malaysian Open title, closing with a 2-under 70 for a three-stroke victory in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Thongchai, a 34-year-old former paratrooper, had a 21-under 267 total on the Saujana course. India’s Jyoti Randhawa (67) finished second.