It happened when Greg Norman ‘lost’ the 1996 Masters to arch rival Nick Faldo and now the knives are out for Adam Scott following his final round demise in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Australia is the home of the ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ and the process of putting its sports stars up on the highest of high pedestals and then enjoying the delight in cutting them down to size.

It’s been less than four hours since Scott let slip victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the ‘C’ word has surfaced in a story written by Daniel Cherny, a sports writer with the Melbourne-based and Fairfax owned newspaper The Age.

Adam Scott has his eye on the ball playing out of a bunker during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Of course, www.golfbytourmiss.com reported Scott’s downfall in suburban Orlando mirrored his loss to Rory McIlroy in last December’s Australian Open at Royal Sydney but never will www.golfbytourmiss.com mention the ‘C’ word.

Though it didn’t stop Cherny, and who no doubt celebrated Scott’s Masters success a year ago but then who’s no doubt never been present at a golf tournament nor spoken face-to-face with Scott.

And for his only quote Cherny draws on the remark of Mark Allen, a no-name former Australasian Tour pro who appears on no Australasian Tour honour roll and who now seeks to make a name, like some many other pros without the slightest hint of any journalistic ability, providing ‘expert’ commentary on golf for Australian TV.

In his article Cherney conveniently leaves out the fact Schwartzel created Masters history when he birdied his closing four holes.  Cherney also incorrectly reports Scott shot a new Bay Hill course record whereas Scott’s 62 was an equal course record.  Cherney paints a picture Scott ‘losing’ the 2013 British Open when it was England’s Lee Westwood who took a two shot lead into the last day at Muirfield.

It also is factually incorrect also to say a Scott victory would have seen him overtake Tiger Woods and become World No. 1 as that would not happen to next week had he won.

Scott had returned home triumphant late last year and proceeded to capture the Australian PGA and then came from behind to beat US Ryder Cup star Matt Kuchar to win a second Australian Masters before remaining in Melbourne to share victory a week later with Jason Day to win the World Cup of Golf.

Yet Cherney singles the obviously now exhausted Australian for losing the Australian Open at Royal Sydney to McIlroy in what was Scott’s fourth event in five weeks.

I could find many uses for the article but suffice to say all it’s good for is fish-and-chip wrapping.

And as much as it disgusts me here is the article in quesiton:-

He may have provided Australian golf with arguably its finest moment at the 2013 US Masters, but Adam Scott continues to have trouble shedding the unwanted ”choker” tag.

Yet another capitulation, this time at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, has brought back the inevitable comparisons with Australia’s most famous blower of leads, Greg Norman.

Scott headed the field by a record seven shots through 36 holes, and was still three strokes ahead when the final round started, but a four-over 76 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge meant Scott finished third, two shots behind maiden tour winner, American Matt Every. Had he prevailed, Scott would have risen above Tiger Woods to claim the world No.1 ranking for the first time.

The Australian had shot a course-record 62 on Friday, but yet again relinquished a comfortable lead, adding another chapter to his growing catalogue of surrendered buffers. Clearly the most infamous of these was Scott’s performance at the 2012 British Open, where his four-stroke lead on the 15th tee somehow failed to be converted into a first major title, as he was swamped late by veteran South African Ernie Els.

While his play-off victory over Angel Cabrera at Augusta last year released the pressure valve significantly, for native Queenslander Scott, that triumph remains the exception that proves the rule. At the 2011 Masters, Scott had a two-shot advantage with two holes to play, but was overrun by South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel.

Even following his breakthrough at the Masters, the Australian remained susceptible to falling away late on the biggest stage. Again he was unable to hold a lead on the final day of the British Open, bogeying four times on the back nine to finish in a tie for third behind Phil Mickelson. At the US PGA later in the year he had been in front after the first round, but could only manage fifth.

Even home soil has not necessarily provided respite for Scott from his Sunday setbacks. Searching for the ‘‘triple crown’’ of Australian golf last year, he let slip a four-shot cushion and opened the door for Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy to claim the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

Former tour professional and leading golf analyst Mark Allen was blunt in his assessment of Scott’s ability to handle pressure when speaking on TEN. ”I can tell you this, he is no good with a lead,” Allen said.

A quote from Mark Allen.  Give me a break!  Adam Scott has won six of 10 PGA Tour events when leading going into a final round and Mark  Allen says:  “He’s no good with a lead!”

Poor foundation for a lack of substance story.