The 35-year-old, winner of the Honda Classic last week, recovered from a terrible start to post a three-under 69 and win on 12 under having gone into the final day three shots off the pace in an event that is one of the four annual World Golf Championships.

He holed a six-foot putt on the last to pip the United States’ Bubba Watson to the title by one shot,.

Overnight leader, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, made only one birdie on his way to carding a two-over 74 that saw him join England's Danny Willett in a tie for third on 10-under.

Scott double-bogeyed the third and fifth, seemingly derailing his challenges as he fell six shots behind McIlroy.

The former Masters champion responded with an incredible run of six birdies in nine holes - including three in a row to start the back nine - as McIlroy dropped three shots.

With Watson safely in the clubhouse on 11-under having closed with an impressive 68, Scott had a one-stroke lead on the 18th which he parred to secure his second WGC title.

"You have to push yourself so hard to beat the class of players that is out here right now," said Scott.

"So I can't believe I won back-to-back weeks.

"To win a World Championship event is huge.

"I'm going to push hard the next few weeks."

McIlroy was left to lick his wounds once more having missed out on victory at last month’s Northern Trust Open in California following a disappointing final round. 

"I didn't make enough birdies," he said

"I felt like my game was okay for the most part, but I didn't take advantage of the holes I should have.

"I couldn't birdie any of the par fives and that's really what killed me today."

The US’s Phil Mickelson stayed within touching distance of the leaders before driving into water at the 10th and running up a costly bogey-six.

A two-under par final round of 70 meant he finished three behind Scott, whose fellow Australian Steven Bowditch posted the worst-ever score in a WGC event after a 12-over-par final round left him 37 over for the tournament.