Adam Scott has confirmed his status at the top of Australian golf by becoming the nation's highest-ranked player after winning his third USPGA event.

His four-shot victory at the Booz Allen Classic in Maryland lifted the Queenslander from 15th spot in the world rankings to 13th.

It was Scott's second win on the USPGA Tour this year, and the seventh of his professional career.

It allowed him to edge past Victorian Stuart Appleby, who slipped from 13th to 14th in the rankings.

The 23-year-old Scott also leapfrogged Appleby on the USPGA tour money list.

The young gun leapt from 10th to fifth while Appleby fell from seventh to eighth spot.

Only 2004 US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Fiji's Vijay Singh, South African Ernie Els and Tiger Woods have earned more than him on the lucrative tour this year.

Scott's $US864,000 ($A1.24 million) winner's cheque lifted his earnings to more than $US2.9million ($A4.16 million) for 2004.

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