Adam Scott's Golf Season: More Than Meets the Eye

Adam Scott finished in a tie for 25^th at the Masters, a tie for 26^th at the US Open, a tie for 16^that the British Open and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Scott currently sits 23^rd in the FedEx Cup Point rankings and 21^st on the PGA Tour’s Money list. 

Adam Scott has had a superb 2008 season.

Why, you may ask?

Because as is the case so very often, there is more to an athlete's story than what we see on the course, field or court.

There is far more to the story of Adam Scott’s 2008 season than his on-course play.

Just before the Masters back in April, Scott fell ill with a very high fever which was accompanied by large ulcers in his throat. 

Scott medicated himself, fought through the illness and managed to finish 25^th at Augusta, a truly incredible accomplishment at a tough, unforgiving golf course.

Over the next few weeks, Scott continued to suffer recurring spells of this illness. 

In the week prior to the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Scott finally regained some of his strength, both physically and in terms of his game.

Scott’s illness had been severely affecting his practice routine, which had in turn affected his tournament play. Scott decided that he was not going to waste this rare opportunity to play in a tournament while actually feeling somewhat healthy.

So, Scott flew the 24 hours back from Australia so as to not miss out on what had become an infrequent opportunity for him. 

A healthy Scott was able to win the EDS Byron Nelson Championship in a playoff with Ryan Moore.

Then, as if luck wasn’t already positioning itself against Scott, he accidentally slammed his finger in a car door, resulting in a hairline fracture shortly before being scheduled to play in the US Open with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. 

Scott again fought through he pain, somehow managed to grip a golf club with a broken finger, and finished in a tie for 26^th at the US Open, a tournament that is arguably the toughest test of golf there is.

Over the next month or so, Scott was again plagued by his recurring throat troubles, at times having so much trouble breathing that he had to take extremely strong antibiotics and steroids (not the performance enhancing type of steroids for all of you who are about to jump at this gossip opportunity) just to diminish the swelling in his throat caused by the ulcers.

This illness was now draining every last bit of energy out of Scott, which limited his practice, conditioning, and on-course play.

Scott played poorly at the Scottish Open, which was used as a warm-up for the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Scott again managed to somehow perform decently at the British Open, finishing in a tie for 16^th.  

Scott’s recurring undiagnosed illness continued gaining strength leading up to the PGA Championship, where he missed the cut.

This ongoing illness is now forcing Scott to go through a series of in-depth blood tests to try and diagnose whatever it is that has been causing his throat to close up and is draining all of his energy.

Scott, 28, from Queensland, Australia, was quoted in the Melbourne Herald Sun as saying “I've got to get some blood tests to make sure I don't have anything too serious.” 

Many people, me admittedly included, tend to judge a book by its cover.

We talk about how Adam Scott appears ‘soft’ or how he ‘chokes’ in the majors.  We talk about how Scott has been a disappointment and just cannot seem reach his full potential.

But the fact of the matter is that we know what Adam Scott does during four to five hours of a golf round and have no idea what kind of personal, physical or mental issues he may be facing off the course.

All things considered, Scott has had a pretty impressive season. 

Having finished in the top-30 at the season’s first three majors and winning the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, all while fighting through a debilitating illness, a broken finger, not to mention the mental stress and fear he must have been experiencing along with this illness, Scott has had a pretty impressive season. 

Let’s all hope that this talented young golfer can be properly diagnosed and is able to make a full and rapid recovery.