Golfer Adam Scott has just about everything: he has earned over $18 million, has won 14 events around the world, has free time to go skiing and golfing in places we can only dream about and has a swing molded by Butch Harmon that every player on tour admires. Oh yeah, he also is handsome enough to get about any woman in the world after all, chicks do love the Aussie accent.
There is just one thing Scott does not have: a Major Championship.
With Tiger Woods on the shelf, many expected an Aussie superstar to compete at the 2008 British Open.
They just never expected that golfer to be 53-year-old, Greg Norman.
When Scott claimed the 2004 Players' Championship many expected it to be his breakthrough victory.
By winning what many call the "fifth" Major, it will only be a matter of time, before Scott takes the mantle of the top twenty-something in golf to separate himself from the Justin Rose's, Sergio Garcia's and Luke Donald's of the world.
Scott has had three top 10 in Majors since that Players' crown, but none since 2006 and still no Major to his name.
His closest call has come in 2006 in the PGA Championship at Merion where he finished in a three-way tie for third.
Scott's final round score of 67 was just one shot shy of the round of the day posted by Chad Campbell.
Still, Scott enters Oakland Hills this week with a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of "Glory's Last Shot" in the 2008 PGA Championship.
Call it a hunch. Call it lunacy.
However, something tells me that this time will be the time for Adam Scott to add the title of Major Champion to his increasing list of feats.
Since winning the Byron Nelson Championship earlier this year, Scott has only had one top 10 and one round of heart-break.
Right before the Open Championship, Scott was making a run on the final day of the Barclay's before his putter let him down.
Scott, who had been three under through eight holes and just off the lead before he made two straight double bogeys.
Scott's missed putts on nine derailed a great round and probably did not put him in the best mindset heading into a Major, but he still shot well his first two days in the Open at Birkdale.
His ball-striking kept him in play and allowed him to maneuver the ball in the tough conditions.
It was his putter, once again, which led to his fall from grace on the weekend.
We all know that Scott, like his contemporary Sergio Garcia, are just one solid putting performance from greatness.
Scott is seventh on the tour in birdies but 70th in putting. He averages 29.61 putts per round which is 158th on tour.
3 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Fitzpatrick 11 months ago
Nice article here Ben.
I believe that Adam Scott will win a major, maybe even 2-3 of them during the course of his career.
But, I don't believe he is ready right now.
In the past 2 years, particularly the past year I don't think Scott has given us any indication that he is ready to win a major. That is not to say that he won't, Trevor Immelman certainly hadn't given us much indication that he could potentially win the Masters.
I just think Scott doesn't have the head for winning a major just yet. He seems to fold under pressure. When he played in the US Open with Tiger and Mickleson he appeared to be in awe of the situation rather than looking at it as his chance to go out and beat Tiger and Mickelson in front of the world.
I think Scott will get there but not this week.
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Ben Gibson 11 months ago
Thanks Martin. I really can't argue any of your points but every now and then you have to go with your gut and not your brain. Tom Lehman is no ace with the flat stick and he was able to win the U.S. Open here. I think the greens are quirky enough that Scott might just be able to get by.
You're right though he has had trouble with the pressure. Certainly not the favorite but as they say "that's the beauty of sports". It's why they play the game.
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Michael Fitzpatrick 11 months ago
That's perfectly correct Ben.
It is particularly difficult in golf to pick who is going to play well from week to week. There are so many players and such parity.
In football you can pretty much know that the team that is more physically talented is going to win the game most of the time, albiet there is always a chance for an upset.
In golf we are trying to pick a winner out of 150+ players, all of whom are not seperated by that much when it comes to their ability.
This is even more relevant in a major where literally a few mis-hit tee shots could be the difference between making the cut and being in contention. The rough is so long and the course is so tough that 3 bad tee shots could equate to anywhere from 3-6 addittional strokes.
I hope Scott plays well this week, he is fun to watch and his swing is a picture of perfection.
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