Augusta, GA …It is the smile that only a Masters Champion can boast.
Three years ago Adam Scott ended a 77-year wait for an Australian-born golfer to be fitted with a Masters green jacket.
And this year, on the 20th anniversary of Greg Norman’s heart-breaking demise at Augusta National, Scott spoke of the joy three years after winning the Masters what it is like to return to these hallowed grounds as a Masters champion.
“This is a week where it’s very hard for me not to walk around with a smile on my face,” he said.
“Coming back into the club is a great feeling. Going up into the champions locker room and sharing a locker with Gary Player is just incredible for me and to share a couple moments with him every week beside our locker.
Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia looks on from No. 10 green during Practice Round 1 at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday, April 4, 2016.
“Then all the other guys on top of that, walking out the other side of the clubhouse and seeing this incredible golfing arena that’s Augusta National Golf Club.
“It really is such a special week anyway, but having won here, knowing I’m coming back forever, and having my little part of this tournament is fantastic for me. And like I said, I think it just purely makes me very happy.”
However Scott then revealed, and at age 35, he’s very conscious to make the most of the ‘window’ on his career he admits is slowing closing.
“It’s hard for me to think that anything I achieve will be bigger than that moment in my career than winning the Masters, but that doesn’t mean I’m not striving to win other Masters Tournaments or any other big championship,” he said.
“At some point, I would have said that I don’t want it to be the one major that I win. I feel I’ve got the game to win other majors, and I’m looking to win my second major championship this week, and I’m driven towards doing that because I want to win a handful of majors in my career.
Adam Scott becomes the first Australian ever to win the Masters.
“I need to get my skates on because it’s getting tougher and tougher every year. But I’m in good shape. I think it will just be another boost for the confidence in my career to go on and try and achieve everything I’ve ever wanted.”
And it prompted a follow-up question to Scott if he thought he could still win at the game’s highest level.
“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it which is probably a good thing, because it means I’m not quite there yet that I have to worry about it,” he said.
“But it certainly seems like there are only a few players who have been very dominant over 40 years old, and it’s probably going to be harder, too, as the young 20‑somethings are better and better. That’s probably a trend that’s going to continue to happen.
“So my window might not be closing, but it’s not wide open, either (smiling).
