Globetrotting is an accepted, if at times unappealing, part of a professional golfer’s life. Therefore in common with most other travellers, it is one reason why returning home always holds an added attraction.
Young Australian golfer Adam Scott is no different to most which is why the 20 year old is relishing this week’s European Tour event, the Greg Norman Holden International at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.
Of course, apart from enjoying the sunshine on his back and being amongst friends and family, the winner of last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship is also returning to the venue where, 12 months ago, he first made the world of golf sit up and take notice of a special talent within its ranks.
In the second round of the 2000 tournament, the then 19 year old amateur established a stunning course record 63, a fabulous and flawless ten under par effort which included six birdies in a row from the eighth to the 13th and an eagle three at the 14th.
Ironically, while everyone else was marvelling at the scoring feat by such a relatively inexperienced player, Scott himself was barely noticing what he was in the process of achieving, his mind being firmly focused elsewhere.
“I holed a couple of good birdie putts on the front nine but, to be honest, I thought I was still in danger of missing the cut after having shot 75 in the first round. So I was more concentrated on making the weekend than anything else,’’ he said.
“Because I was thinking about that, I didn’t really remember a specific time in the round when I thought a low score was on. Even when the putts started dropping I still had one eye on the scoreboard. But then everything I hit started to go in – it was a great feeling at the end.”
The cut safely negotiated, Scott did not quite scale the heights again on the Saturday and Sunday, rounds of 72 and 78 seeing him eventually finish in a tie for 37th place. But such scoring disparity has been ironed out in the past year, evidence being his win in Houghton, and he aims to prove that once more in Sydney this week.
“Obviously I’m looking forward to playing at The Lakes again although it will be hard to match the 63,’’ he said. “But I’ll be trying my best and perhaps, even if I can’t do that, I can be more consistent across the tournament as a whole.
“The course itself is great although the two nines present a slightly different test to each other with the water, where the course gets its name from, being far more prevalent on the back nine. You have to be accurate off the tee and watch the wind which can be tricky at times.
“There are a number of memorable holes on the course, the tenth and 11th are challenging and the long 14th can be tough depending on the wind. It is also quite interesting that the last hole is a par three. You don’t often find that and it could be that the outcome of the tournament could come down to one tee shot, which would be different.”
Scott’s victory in Houghton, as well as announcing his arrival on the stage of world golf, also moved the goalposts as far as the Australian’s season was concerned, as his playing privileges for 2002 are now already secured.
“Obviously at the very start of the season my main aim was to keep my card but now that has changed I can go into tournaments knowing I have what it takes to win,” he said.
“The whole week at Houghton was great but it was so close coming down the stretch with Justin (Rose), that when the winning putt went in, it was more a feeling of relief that I’d done it rather than great joy. Having said that though, the real delight and pleasure at what I’d achieved did come pretty soon afterwards.
“It was a pleasant surprise to come through but I really thought in the first half of this year that I could win a golf tournament. My goal was also to finish in the top ten of the Volvo Order of Merit for the year so that’s off to a good start. I’m eighth at the moment so hopefully I can hold onto that for the rest of the year.”
One factor which did concern fans of the young Australian was the fact he missed out on the Mercedes-Benz South African Open tournament, the week after his Alfred Dunhill triumph, through recurrence of a knee injury.
But Scott was quick to point out there was no need for concern. “My knee is fine, there are no worries, it is just part of an ongoing problem which came about because I was still growing. But I had physiotherapy every day the week I was off and it is fine now. It is just part of an ongoing fitness programme to ensure it keeps improving and I’m looking forward to playing this week.”
The message is clear, Adam Scott is fit, ready and raring to go again. Don’t bet against him making another big splash at The Lakes.
