We’ll be talking about Adam Scott’s superb success at Augusta for months, and rightfully so as the first Australian to break the 77-year Masters drought.
It was a clinical and courageous victory, and hopefully the first of more majors.
We have to go back 60 years to Peter Thomson and his five British Opens in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965 – and his seconds in 1952, 1953, and 1957. In seven successive years, no worse than runner-up.
No golfer has come within a binocular distance of those stats.
Then there’s The Don with a monster Test average of 99.94, more than 50% better than the closest retired batsman Graeme Pollock’s 60.97.
And even though he retired in 1948, Don Bradman is still the only Australian batsman to pass 100 first-class centuries with 117, the closest Justin Langer with 86, Darren Lehmann 82, Mark Waugh 81, Steve Waugh 79, Matt Hayden 79, and Stuart Law 79.
Ricky Ponting with 80 by far the best of the current batsmen. Can he score 20 more before he retires?
The Don scored 17 first-class tons in his last year when he turned 40, Ponting is 38.
On the Olympic track we’ve has four great moments.
In 1952 Marjorie Jackson created history as the first Australian women to win the sprint double – the 100 and 200.
In 1956 Betty Cuthbert went one better with the 100, 200, and relay and eight years later added a fourth gold with victory in the inaugural 400.
Rome 1960 and the magnificent 1500 run by Herb Elliott, smashing his own world record and winning by 30m, still the record margin for the event. Elliott was never beaten over the mile or 1500 and retied at 23, with nothing left to prove.
And Sydney 2000, when Cathy Freeman stopped the nation with her 400 gold. What a night that was.
Heather McKay won 16 successive British squash Opens from 1962 to 1977. When she retired at 40 she had only been beaten twice in nearly 20 years early in her career, Heather was also a Hockeyroo and the champion racquetballer of Canada.
Rod Laver won two Grand Slams, 1962 as an amateur, and 1969 as a pro, the only two-timer, Margaret Court won her Grand Slam in 1970.
Kay Cottee was the first women to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world, it took her 189 days in 1988 and was named Australian of the Year.
Dawn Fraser was the first women to crack the minute for the 100m freestyle with 59.9 then broke that with 58.9. The second world record wasn’t broken until 1973, eight years after Dawn retired.
Cadel Evans’ 2011 Tour de France win is right up there, with thanks to Phil Anderson for hanging in there in the early days to give Australia some recognition.
In 1952 Jimmy Carruthers became Australia’s first official world boxing champion when he hammered Vic Towell in Johannesburg. Carruthers landed 147 punches in 139 seconds to knock Towell out, the South African threw one punch that missed.
The Americas Cup win in 1983, ended 132 years of American domination. Memorable moments for John Bertrand, Alan Bond, and the whole of Australia.
Queensland’s seven-year State of Origin domination from 2006 deserves special mention, so too the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cup victories.
For a country with such a small population, Australia sure punches above her weight.
Long may that be the case, and that Adam Scott is an integral part of that.
JR
Guest
ill bet anyone $1m that in 10 years, no even 2 years, that Scott's win won't get anywhere near the top 10 in any lists. Typical short term memory hype from the media and short term thinkers. Reminds me of greatest songs of all time lists. Todays crappy pop hits make it up high in the lists when in 2 years wouldn't make the top 10,000. Scott's win is fantastic, but there's dozens of other golfing moments that are equal, let alone dozens of other sporting achievements that leave it for dead. Couldn't be bothered with a top 10, but greatest sportsman, Bradman by a mile. Greatest single achievement. Cadel. Drug jokes aside, the biggest, most gruelling, fittest athletes in the world. European dominated. Go ride a bike up the dandenongs. Then ride 3-4 times the speed on mountains 5 times a long and twice as steep, up and down, for 3000k. Most over-rated. America's cup. Technology 80%. Athletes 20%. Perhaps Australia's greatest sports engineering feat. And a mostly elitist sport at that level. What a joke
Felix
Guest
"Sally Pearson beat a much more competetive (sic) field than Scott" I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one sorry Brian: Tiger Woods Phil Mickelson Rory McIlroy Luke Donald Angel Cabrera; and Freddy 'senior-citizen' Couples There are a lot of major wins in that group, knocking them off is a huge effort from Adam, though there are plenty more worthy contenders in my opinion.
doubledutch
Roar Pro
Dude your last sentence makes no sense what so ever. This is my point though. England are good enough to compete as England in Soccer, so they do so. England are good enough to compete as England in Rugby Union, so they do so. England are good enough to compete as England in cricket, so they do so. England are not good enough to compete at League, so they do so as GB. They are not good enough to compete in the Olympics as England, so they compete as GB. I think my point is clear, just as when Andy Murray wins anything in tennis he is a Brit. When he loses he is a Scot, simple as that my friend.
Johnno
Guest
Australia hasn't produced loads of triathlete's last time I checked. A few come and go like Brad Bevan, and Emma Carney, but we are no world triathlon powerhouse. Iron men we were strong in the 80's and 90's but have faded. And Ironman and women is not really a global sport it's basically Australian centric only.
Jorge
Guest
David Lord places too much importance on what is, to my thinking, an achievement on par with winning a tennis major, or a world championship ie tournaments that happen every year, and at which one expects the best contenders. Even then a tennis slam might be considered harder than a golf major because of the physical component. Winning an Olympic gold medal is harder still because of the time element, so multiple people sit in front of Adam. Then there is the difficulty of the event, and I don't think anyone can say that 72 holes of golf spread over 4 days with multiple breaks in between is as hard as as an Ironman triathlon, say, so plenty other people sit ahead of Scott. Then there is sustained superior performance over a career spanning years, so heaps of people ahead of him again as per above comments. Well done for winning it, I say, and best wishes with trying to win more in future, but that's about it. :-)
jameswm
Roar Guru
Cathy's higher than that. I was there. I'd have it battling for no.1 as a 3-way tie!
Naranja
Guest
Heather's record may be the best in all sports in all countries. At the top of her game there were only two men who could beat her. Perhaps the best Aussie performance was put in by an entire bunch of Aussies - the '56 Melbourne Olympics. Australia finished 3rd on the medal table. An astonishing performance. BTW David, Carruthers beat Vic Toweel. The Towel you mention is something his corner didn't have a chance to throw in.
SandBox
Roar Guru
like the non-PC lists more, especially 'la tortuga'. Would like to add: Bela playing the ball to NSW in the SoO Campo's "own goal" Kenrick Monk unable to admit to falling off his skateboard Greg Ritchie's pitch invasion at Waugh's century Dennis Lillee's aluminium bat female streakers...anywhere Inflatable sheep dolls at any game we play the kiwis Norman saying he could buy his own green jacket Roger Davis turning up to the Master's registration day in thongs Warne, McGrath, Merv, and others, best sledges
John
Guest
Just to add to the discussion - the 11 consecutive St George grand final victories, or Brett Kenny with two tries in three consecutive grand finals, or the 1982 rugby league invincibles. They may not be top 10 but in each case no-one else has done it and that seems to be a key criteria on any list. For mine the better Rafter victory was the US open final where he beat another Australian - Phillipousis. Rare for two Australians to fight it out on foreign soil. Great catalyst for a fun discussion, David. Thanks
teepee
Guest
You're saying that he's only become a Queenslander since he started winning? ;)
Chanch
Guest
What about Jack Brabham? He should surely rank in a top 10 of Aussie sporting achievements. 3 drivers world championships, and his 3rd in his own team/car, still the only person win a championship in a car of his own construction! This was in a highly cmpetetive period against against the likes of Ferrari, porsche, maserati and lotus, containing great drivers such as Moss, Graham and Phill Hill, Jim Clarke.
Scuba
Guest
Wasn't born in 74, but I think part of the importance of the 05 qualification was the heartbreak that had preceded it in the 98 and, to a lesser extent, 02 campaigns. It was a cumulative effect to some extent.
handles
Guest
Damn, wrong again! Also, thinking further rmeinded me how hrd it is to be a F1 world champ. Alan Jones 1980 F1 championship was great, but second as an Aussie achievement to Jack Brabham in 1966. Still the only (and probably always the only) driver to win a championship in a car bearing his own name. An (almost all) Aussie effort, with engines designed by Repco. As happy as I am for Adam, he just slipped out of my top 10. Hope his millions help cushion the fall.
Mango Jack
Guest
Even better! Thx Swampy. My other non-PC favourites include: Steve Bradbury - the last man standing Any event involving Tatiana Artie Beetson's punch on Mick Cronin. The start of a 30+ year state war. Campo's hail mary pass The Big Dipper playing an AFL GF with broken ribs and a punctured lung Any event involving Torah Bright
Johnno
Guest
Heck it's funny how we forget this one but st george dragons 11 straight titles. A record in any top class sports comp in the World.
Lancey5times
Guest
As I said, it's a personal list
fadida
Guest
The world is yet to fully recover from the swans '05 GF win.....Massive global moment :)
Me Too
Guest
Most exciting, absorbing, gratifying sporting victories. *barring one indulgence, all from 1980 on. Based on emotional outpouring on the final whistle, siren, hooter, cannon. 1. 2005 Socceroos qualifying victory on penalties - the ultimate absolute unleashing of emotion in a split second. The 30 year curse finally broken. 2. America's Cup 1983 - a nation united following a elitist sport nobody really knew much or previously cared much about about. 3. Perkins 1500m - a favourite suddenly found himself as an old unlikely underdog, and the only thing Australian's love more than supporting a dominant sporting icon, is cheering on an underdog to a world famous victory. Speaking of which; 4. The ultimate underdog victory, coining a phrase and remaining unbeatable in the feel good factor it delivered - Bradbury's gold. 5. Cathy Freeman - Simply has to be up there as the Olympics wouldn't have been quite the same without a local hero winning a big track event. A heck of a lot of pressure on Freeman and she delivered. 6. Cadel Evans - The World's biggest annual sporting event and despite no local ever winning it, interest and expectation had increased thanks to Anderson's relative success. 7. Dean Lukin 1984 Gold - a tuna fisherman from Port Lincoln becomes an overnight sensation winning the weightlifting equivalent of a heavyweight boxing crown. Then he went back to fishing. 8. Smash them like guitars - Mens 4 x 100 m relay winning gold 2000 - we all hoped they would but didn't think they could - ultimate big time performance by a sporting team. 9. Australia’s 1999 Davis Cup win - no Rafter, and playing France away and on clay with the notoriously unpredictable Poo and a young Hewitt. Poo delivered. 10. St Kilda's 1966 Premiership. One flag in 140 years of competition, some 36 wooden spoons - the greatest underdog story, by the slimmest of margins, against the most evil (and successful) of opponents.
Give me the Aussie pls!
Guest
On the cover of an Australian passport it says - Australia On the cover of a British passport it says - European Union, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain isn't a construct designed to win more. It's the official name of the country and the IOC are pretty aggressive about keeping it that way. Hence why Scotland have been slapped down twice when trying to break away. If GB was allowed to compete as its home nations they would like in most other sports.
Swampy
Guest
It was 52 cans - Bacchus drank 48!