Adam Scott insists it’s not impossible to win the remaining three majors yet to be on his CV.
At an age where his European contemporaries and some Americans are ditching the weekly grind to swim in Saudi cash, the message from Scott at his first press conference in Australia for three years was clear: I’m not done yet.
“I guess I wanted to win all the majors, and that sounds like a lot, but really it’s three more events,” Scott said on the eve of the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland. “It’s just got to be the right week. I have all the tools. I’m still very healthy. I’m still moving the golf ball well and I have a lot of experience, and I’m just trying to put it all together.”
Scott has been in the middle of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf divide all year. He was one of the first to express interest in the league, and has seemingly sat on the fence ever since. Yo-yoing between PGA Tour player meetings with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to declaring “LIV is not pure evil” and cheekily urging Cameron Smith to make him an offer to join his franchise.
Maybe he’s more chance of brokering peace in our time than Greg Norman.
“I’m really not sure on what his stance is,” world No.3 Smith said of Scott. “I obviously can’t talk for him, he’s kind of been in the middle for so long he’s just going with whatever happens. I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
Adam Scott on the putting green with new caddie Steve Williams.Credit:Getty
But it’s majors, not money, which is driving Scott in 2023, and that’s why he’s yet to take the plunge to LIV.
Scott’s legacy is safe. He was a world No.1, and then there was Augusta. In the fading light and misty rain, and with an Argentine, Angel Cabrera, who just wouldn’t go away nipping at his heels, Scott sunk the play-off putt which made him the only Australian – so far – to win the green jacket at The Masters.
It’s almost 10 years on, and he’s still searching for that second major, one which will take him to an elite class. At 42, he’s still one of the world’s best, ranked No.34. He’s got Tiger Woods’ old caddie Steve Williams back on his bag this week, and for a portion of next year. But the clock is ticking on another major, and he knows it.
Phil Mickelson won last year’s PGA Championship a month shy of his 51st birthday. It’s possible.
“I don’t live in the States, but I’m going to spend way more time in the States next year to compete seriously,” Scott said. “I can’t be flying all around the world playing against guys who don’t.
“I’ve shifted my focus as well. I want to fulfil my dreams and goals as a player and time is less and less on my side. I have to do everything I can to make sure I give myself the best chance. I still haven’t achieved all the things I want to achieve in my own career.”
Tournament officials delivered a dream group when they pitted Scott alongside The Open Champion Smith and Kiwi star Ryan Fox for the first two rounds of the Australian PGA in Brisbane. The only problem for Scott is they’re scheduled to tee off at 6am local time on Thursday as he tries to recover from jet lag.
Meanwhile, Smith was announced as the Greg Norman Medal winner for the second time in three years after edging out Minjee Lee for the highest individual honour in Australian golf during a ceremony in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
The 29-year-old was presented with the keys to the city on Tuesday after his astonishing year, which also included a reported $140 million switch to Norman’s LIV Golf.
Watch the Australian PGA Championship on the 9Network and 9Now from November 24-27.
