Surf trumps tees for PGA champ Scott

SELF-CONFESSED surfing nut Adam Scott could not resist taking to Jeju Island’s waves this week while preparing for golf’s CJ Cup, he revealed yesterday.

While most of his rivals in the 78-man field were practising on the course for the US PGA Tour’s first event in South Korea, the Australian sneaked off for a couple of hours at the southern island’s famous Jungmun beach.

“I was lucky enough to get down to the beach the other day and took the opportunity while I was there to run out to try to catch a couple of waves,” golf’s former world No 1 said. “I think I was an hour or two late. “The tide was heading back out or coming in, or something. It wasn’t quite as good as when I was watching from afar, but maybe that’s just my luck.”

But the 2013 US Masters champion said it was still one to tick off his bucket list.

“It’s something I love to do away from golf and even to say I’ve surfed for one hour in Korea is a story for me to tell to my surfing buddies back home,” he said.

“It’s really fun to be able to say I’ve surfed in Korea. I’d like to go again, but I don’t think it’s going to happen this trip.”

Ten of the world’s top 30 will tee off on Jeju Island today in the second event of a three-week swing as the US PGA Tour spreads its wings further into Asia.

World No 4 and US PGA Champion Justin Thomas is the top-ranked player at the par-72 Nine Bridges course for an event which carries a first prize of $1.7-million (R23-million) as part of a massive $9.3-million (R126-million) purse. –