Adam Scott is looking for revenge and calling on Australian Open organisers to pair him against defending champion Rory McIlroy for the opening two rounds at the Australian Club in Sydney.
It was nearly a year ago Scott, as the reigning Masters Champion, let slip becoming only the second player in Australasian Tour history to capture the ‘Triple Crown’ in winning the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Masters and the Australian Open.
Australian Open fans were near fever pitch when the first Australian to be fitted with an Augusta National green jacket headed up the final fairway at Royal Sydney leading McIlroy by a shot.
However record crowds were left dumbruck when Scott virtually handed the Northern Irishman success in flying the green with his second shot, and with McIlroy then holing a 16-foot birdie putt but with Scott then missing his par putt for an eventual bogey.
McIlroy became only the second European in the history of the event to be handed the famed Stonehaven Trophy, and with current World No. 1 this year claiming his victory along the shores of Sydney Harbour to be the springboard this year that’s seen McIlroy capture the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, a first Open Championship, a first WGC title in winning the Bridgestone Invitational and fourth Major in capturing a second PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy holds aloft the Stonehaven Trophy after winning last year’s Australian Open. (Photo – Anthony Powter)
And as Scott prepares to return home he spoke of his motivation in looking to turn the tables on McIlroy starting November 27th.
“It annoyed me for a little while and fortunately I was competing soon after that in Hawaii, so at that point you are kind of moving on,” said Scott.
“But I was annoyed, annoyed that I had done everything I needed to do to win the four events down there if you include Jason (Day) and myself winning the World Cup of Golf.
“So to mess up on the very last hole of the last of the four tournaments I played back home last year was very, very frustrating.
“Rory’s been saying winning the Australian Open last year was the springboard into what he has achieved this year but then he was already starting to look ominous towards the later part of last year ahead of what he started to achieve about six or seven months later.
“He just played flawless that Sunday at Royal Sydney and he played beautiful doing everything he needed to do to get himself in position and that was class.”
And with the World No. 1 ranked McIlroy along with the current World No. 2 ranked Scott to be competing in Sydney, Scott believes Golf Australia should take full advantage of their presence and pair the duo for the opening two rounds.
“Personally, I believe the organisers should take advantage and put Rory and myself together because it does happen occasionally at U.S. Open’s where they pair the players according to their rankings,” said Scott.
“It’s not often we have the World No. 1 and the No. 2 world ranked players in the same tournament in Australia and it would be fun to do, and I would certainly enjoy that.”
Steve Williams gives Adam Scott the line during the second round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney (Photo: Anthony Powter)
Scott set about the task of capturing a second Australian Open with a Royal Sydney course record 62 and with McIlroy trailing seven shots behind before the Northern Irishman cut Scott’s lead to two on day two.
McIlroy was then four back of Scott heading to the final round, and then at one stage five behind his Australian-born rival mid-round on Sunday.
McIlroy, who was looking to become only the second European-born winner of the Australian Open, then found himself just one shop behind heading up the final fairway before Scott fired his second shot through the 18th green.
McIlroy found the green in regulation to then hole a 16-foot birdie putt and with overwhelming home crowd left shocked when Scott bogeyed for a two-shot turnaround in McIlroy’s Australian Open winning favour.
“Rory looked pretty good that last round and you could tell he was playing back to near his best,” recalls Scott.
“He didn’t look to me that here was a guy low on confidence because in the couple of times he got himself into trouble, he dealt with the situation nicely and did everything that you would expect from a top player.”
While Scott does not expect the level of excitement he single-handedly generated last year in returning home wearing the most sought-after item of apparel in golf, he believes there will be just enough news headlines.
Scott will not only be looking to win the Australian Masters for a third time running but also a second straight Australian PGA title and a second Australian Open after winning the event for a first occasion at the New South Wales club in 2009.
“Maybe it won’t be the same level of excitement as a year ago but then there will be plenty of good stories brewing with the three events in Australia and there is some exciting golf that people can look forward to,” he said.
“I am trying to win three Australian Masters in a row while the Australian Open will be fantastic as we might have the No.1 and No. 2 player in the world competing in Sydney so that’s not happening anywhere in the world that week so that should command a lot of attention.
“Then Jordan Spieth is competing in Australia for a first time which is great plus there is a host of usual Australian suspects (smiling).
“Then, of course, there is the Australian PGA Championship that will be nice for me as it is close to home and I am defending that tournament, so as far as I look at it there will be plenty of excitement for me going back home to play in Australia.
“And I feel coming off the back of what I achieved last year there is still some momentum I will take down to Australia.”
