Adam Scott’s longevity and desire

Adam Scott during his press conference today – image PGA of Australia

Australia’s finest golfing ambassadors of the modern era, Adam Scott, is not only impressing with the very classy way he goes about his business, but that he is still competing at a very high level despite now being well into his 25th year as a professional.

Adam Scott will tee it up at Royal Queensland on Thursday, chasing a third Australian PGA Championship, having won in 2013 and 2019 at RACV Royal Pines. Those titles, along with a victory at the 2009 Australian Open Championship at the New South Wales Golf Club, two Australian Masters titles and a Johnnie Walker Classic title, make him one of Australia’s more successful players domestically, but he remains keen to build on that legacy despite now being 45 and carrying form of late that is below his best.

“Well, I mean Greg’s resume is incredible,” said Scott when asked how he would like his own legacy to appear when his career is over. “I feel like I’ve had some close calls at the Aussie Open, other than the win. I’ve had some good performances and they just haven’t quite gone my way. And to win multiple Aussie Opens would be a nice thing, and I know it’s only getting probably tougher for me from this point.

“So while I’m healthy and feeling good, I want to make the most of it. We’re here to focus on the PGA this week, but again, to join a great list of guys winning three PGAs will be pretty special as well.”

While his international season has not been a great one by his normal standards, he still believes his game is in good enough shape to be a factor wherever he tees it up.

“I still feel like, by some of the indicators that everyone judges the game by today, I’m relevant. I was in the last group at the US Open this year on Sunday and didn’t have a great day, but I feel like I’ve still got the game to compete at the highest level.

“But everything is a bit of a balance, and managing my schedule and what I can and can’t do is the challenge. And at the moment, I’m kind of a little bit on the back foot with that, not completely controlling everything myself, but it can all turn around quickly in golf, a couple of good weeks and you’re firing again. My focus is on playing and really sharpening that focus to a point where I’m focused on winning tournaments, and that generally takes care of everything.”

“I’m starting to turn into that kind of old golf pro who’s out there. I remember when I turned pro, and I looked at some of those guys who are my age now, and how old I thought they were, and now that’s me. But personally, I feel physically and mentally able to do it still. Fortunately, I’m not in an aches-and-pains phase yet, and I’m really motivated and until I get to that point I’ll at least try and keep competing. I really think I just need to sharpen up my focus a little bit and get back in that winning circle. Hopefully that’s the next couple of weeks, and I can kick on and still have some good golf ahead of me.”

Like Ryan Fox and Elvis Smylie, who also spoke to the media today, a focus for Scott is to make it onto the 2026 International Presidents Cup team where his longtime friend and peer, Geoff Ogilvy, will captain the International side.

“Top of my list with winning tournaments is making the Presidents Cup team next year. A lot has been put into the International team over the last years. We had a tough Cup in Canada, and the team’s been dealt some tough blows the last three or even four Cups. Geoff’s really engaged and taken the bull by the horns for the International players and I really mean, for personal reasons, I’d really love to be on that team.

“Geoff and I have played golf since we were juniors together, and I would love to get my game in shape to make that team and get that International win. I think it’s close, and people might not think it’s that close, but I think it is coming down to… even in Canada it was just losing or winning the last hole a couple of times made the difference. I’ve seen a lot of buy-in from the young guys the last few years who want to play under that International shield. So it’d be fun to make it another time and hopefully be there for a win.”

But first to this week and Scott’s history as a member of Royal Queensland in his amateur days and a good finish here in 2023 after leading early, suggests he could have a good week.