Scott’s golf mastery
April 16, 2002: Gold Coaster Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the US Masters in 2013. But more than a decade earlier, the golf superstar provided a glimpse of what was to come.
GOLD Coast star Adam Scott etched his name into history yesterday when he became the third youngest player to record a top-10 finish at the US Masters.
Only greats Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have had better results at a younger age at Augusta National.
Nicklaus was 21 years, two months when he tied for seventh in 1961 before winning six times, while Woods was 21 years, three months when he won the first of his three green jackets in 1997.
Scott, at 21 years, nine months tied for ninth at three-under 285 in a stunning Masters debut which suggests that he has every chance of becoming the first Australian to wear the green jacket in the not-too-distant future.
“I’ve had a great week,” said Scott who shot 70 – the equal second best final-round score – to finish nine strokes behind Woods.
“My goal at the start of the day was to get my name on the leaderboard coming up the last.
“It was good that I snuck in there.”
The elegant Scott’s game is ideally suited to Augusta.
He hits the ball long and high and his stock shot is a draw, attributes which augur well for future success.
“I feel comfortable on this course. Distance is no problem and I can shape the ball off the tees,” he said.
But the day belonged to the dynamic Woods as he fired a steady 71 to finish at 12under 276, three strokes clear of South African Retief Goosen (74).
The 26-year-old American superstar chalked up his seventh career major and is now nearly halfway towards Nicklaus’
record of 18 - a mark previously considered untouchable but now increasingly attainable.
But Scott knows that his game is not quite yet at the level where he can expect to beat Woods and company week in and week out.
“I know I can compete (with the best) if I’m playing at my best, but I can’t compete just yet if I’m not playing at my best,” he said.