It was high time Adam Scott got his act together yesterday to show Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler he deserves to be in the front-line mix to win the tournaments that count.
With the exception of last year, Scott has won at least one tournament a year worldwide since he turned pro in 2000 – 33 times overall.
It’s now 12 on the USPGA tour, nine in Europe, five in Australasia, four in Asia, two others with the Grand Slam of Golf, and the World Cup with Day, plus one win on the Sunshine Tour.
But right through his career Scott has blown tournaments by throwing in doubles, triples, and missing gimme putts when he’s been in genuine contention.
It’s been a shameful waste of talent.
Two weeks ago, Scott threw in a lazy lack of concentration double bogey at the eighth hole on the final day among an eagle and six birdies to lose by a shot to Bubba Watson.
Last week an horrendous quadruple bogey at the treacherous par-three 15th hole didn’t cost victory as Scott knuckled down to overcome the major setback and win the Honda for the first time by a shot over Sergio Garcia.
A totally different attitude just a week apart.
But yesterday was his first win in 21 months since he beat Jason Dufner in a play-off for the Colonial to become world number one for 11 weeks.
In that barren 21-month period Spieth won eight times, McIlroy seven, Day five, Watson four, and Fowler four.
Scott has the chance to prove he’s turned the corner this week at Doral when the best golfers in the world tee off in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
It’s a major strength field with 39 of the world’s top 40 on duty, only Thongchai Jaidee, ranked 34, will be missing.
Tee times won’t be available until Thursday morning our time, but expect at least 10 marquee groups of the highest calibre.
And also expect Spieth and McIlroy to bounce back strongly after both missed the cut last time out – rare in itself.
Day and Fowler joined them by missing the cut at the end of January – also rare.
That leaves Scott and Watson the ones to beat after putting away strong fields at their last start, as did world 19 ranked Louis Oosthuizen on the European Tour in Perth at his first sighting of the demanding Lake Karrinyup course.
So make this Doral tournament a must on the sporting bucket list to view this week, it promises to be something very special.
Ben
Guest
"But right through his career Scott has blown tournaments by throwing in doubles, triples, and missing gimme putts when he’s been in genuine contention" I ask you to name the occasions this has happened. I can think of a couple over a 15 year career. If someones been in contention as many times as he has, guaranteed theyve blown a couple. Except for TIger. Meltdown last week?? he hit a bad tee shot, then hit a perfect wedge, which was over hit by half a club. He then scrambled a par on the next hole (one of the toughest on the course), then made birdie. Id call this mental toughness myself...but each to their own. He has a 60% record when leading or tied for the lead after 54 holes. This isnt awesome, but in no way is it bad. Have a look at some other players records in the same stat....what are your thoughts on Jim Furyk?? Answer this before checking his stat on 54 hole leads. "It’s been a shameful waste of talent"....really?? seriously?? You obviously havent done too much research on his career before writing this article, which is a shame. Patrick...if Jordan Spieth had of played the way Scotty did those last 6 holes, you'd probably be saying he showed so much maturity to play smart and make Sergio come up with something. But because its Scotty, its the old 'oh well he didnt really win it, no one challenged him'. Seriously give me a break.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Correct. I think David was right, however, in pointing to the meltdown last week. Scotty was frustratingly unable to close, and there were signs of it this week too. Sergio wasn't charging on the last day, but Scotty wasn't really doing much to hold whatever charge he was making off.
Harry
Guest
Sill one of the best, if the the best, tee to green ... and possessor of a beautiful swing. Really hope his putting starts to hold up as well and he can bag another major.
Chop
Roar Guru
David you are the most frustrating 'expert' on this website, but unfortunately the only one that writes about golf. Last week he was a chocker for losing by one shot to Bubba http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/02/22/adam-scott-greg-norman-riviera/ now the real one has stood up because he won....He still had the same 3 putt issues and had a quad, but because Sergio played a poor round as well Scott is back? EVen if he finished second this week as well, that's two top 3's in a row which means he's playing fantastically at the moment win or not.
Swampy
Guest
Adam Scott is getting on as a golfer in this day and age. He'd want to win a few big ones in the next couple of years because, based on recent history, the decline starts about now. I'd guess probably due to the length of the courses these days and the power required to carve them up.