Scott’s thirsty for Cup
HE’S been Australia’s best golfer of the past decade, and the only Aussie to win at Augusta National, but something’s still eating Adam Scott.
And it’s not that he’s only landed one major, or that his reign as world No.1 was cut short, it’s his inability to win a second Australian Open after his lone victory in 2009 that’s been grating him.
“I’m a little surprised that I haven’t won another Australian Open in this 10-year stretch,” the Gold Coaster said.
“I managed to get a couple of (Australian) Masters in that period and an (Australian) PGA, but it would be nice to get my name on that cup again.
“It’s a great trophy and any time you see your name kind of racking up on a trophy is something quite special. So, this week would be the week to do it.”
Scott is the pre-tournament favourite for the tournament that starts at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney’s eastern suburbs today, but he’s up against a hot field, lured to play here because the Presidents Cup is being held in Melbourne next week.
Half of the Internationals teams, including fellow Aussies Marc Leishman and Cam Smith and Mexico’s defending champion Abraham Ancer, will tee off along with major winners Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Mike Weir and Geoff Ogilvy.
Garcis is playing the Australian Open for the first time. As a Spaniard he’s not eligible to play in the Presidents Cup and confessed he hasn’t got any great tips on how to beat the United States even after being on winning European teams in the Ryder Cup.
“The only thing I can do is wish them luck. Obviously, hopefully they play really, really well,” Garcia said.
“Scotty and I were talking this morning at breakfast, if they can at least make it a tight match and see how the Americans respond, then they’re already achieving something and if they can make it a tight match, then obviously they will have their chances.”
Scott’s attention, at least for the next four days, is winning the Australian Open. His record in the tournament is impressive, although filled with hard-luck stories.
Scott’s win in 2009 was the launch pad for him to regularly contend in the majors and with a bit more luck, he could have had his name engraved on the Stonehaven Cup at least twice more, after finishing runnerup in 2013 and again in 2015.
“I’ve been close a couple of times in the last 10 years and obviously I bogeyed the last and Rory (McIlroy) birdied the last,” he said. “That hurt a lot. And few years ago here I lost by a shot to Matt Jones.”