MELBOURNE - World number two Adam Scott retained his Australian Masters title after fending off a strong challenge from American Matt Kuchar in the final round Sunday. US Masters champion Scott began the day five shots clear of Kuchar, but could not maintain his sub-par form of the previous three rounds and fell two shots behind with four holes to play. But the Australian held his nerve on the closing holes and picked up a birdie on the par-5 15th, while Kuchar, two playing groups ahead, bogeyed the 16th then double-bogeyed the last to lose his winning chance. Scott enjoyed a two-shot buffer entering his last two holes and parred both to finish with an even par 71 to be 14-under 270 for the tournament with Kuchar (68) two shots back and Fiji's Vijay Singh (71) third at 10-under.–AFP