The Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA concluded today, with Rory Sabbatini hanging on for the victory by one shot over defending champion Adam Scott. Sabbatini looked at times like he didn’t want to win, but as happens so often, one hole saved his day. In this case, it was the 16th hole at Riviera, a par-3. Sabbatini had spent most of the day grinding it out while blowing his four-shot lead. But at the 16th, he hit a masterful tee shot that rolled to within 5 feet of the hole. He made the birdie and looked much more confident on the final two holes.

Still, Sabbatini wasn’t out of the woods until he lagged a long (45-foot) putt to within 18 inches for a tap-in par at the 18th hole. Defending champ Adam Scott tore up the course, shooting a 7-under 64 to pull within one shot of Sabbatini, who ended up 1-over for the day.

The win vaulted Sabbatini to the top of the PGA Tour money list with about $2.1 million so far in 2006. It was his fourth career victory and first in the last three years.