Adam Scott – acknowledging the crowd after his 2013 Masters victory, his 47th consecutive major start – image Masters Tournament 

At Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York, on Thursday, Australia’s Adam Scott will tee it up in his 101^st major championship, but his 100^th in succession, becoming just the second person in the history of the game, after Jack Nicklaus, to reach that milestone, Nicklaus’ amazing run of 146 stretching from the 1962 Masters Tournament through to the 1998 US Open.

The number of US Opens Scott has played in the past (24) has him as the player with the most starts in the event in this week’s field. Justin Rose, with 21, is the only other player competing this week with more than 20 appearances.

Whichever way you look at it, the achievement of maintaining a game in good enough shape to gain entry to that many major championships is phenomenal.

In his pre-tournament media conference today, Scott was asked his thoughts on the approaching milestone.

“Yeah, it’s an interesting one, as I’ve thought about it over the last couple of weeks, obviously this week getting closer. I found it difficult at first to reflect on something while I’m still playing. I think I’ve never really been one to dwell on milestones. I think it’s something I’ll probably do at the end of my career.

“However, it’s resonated a little bit more with me the last few days, and from people close to me, to my sponsors and partners, I’m so appreciative of everyone recognizing this. It’s a strange one because it’s not something you really set out to do or aim for.

“But in all honesty, since Pinehurst a couple of years ago, it was kind of on my radar. Earlier this year, as I wasn’t automatically qualified for this event, it became a bit of a weight on my shoulders, making sure I got here.

“It’s been fun. I had a photograph with Jack Nicklaus a couple of weeks ago at his Memorial Tournament, and he’s the other guy who made it to a hundred in a row. He, in fact, made it way past that, and I can’t even think about playing another 11 or 12 years straight of these, but I’m really excited for this week.”

Scott was further asked as to the key to such longevity.

“I would say, probably overall, a certain level of focus has been required over the 25 years to maintain, I’ll call it golf at this elite level, major championship level. It has taken a lot of focus to do that.

“I think there are lots of little things you could break down after that, but I’m quite proud that I’ve managed to keep my focus this long and keep pushing through. Obviously, not all years and all weeks out here are easy, and you’re playing full of confidence.”

Scott’s stretch might have been halted at 93 when he was forced to attend final qualifying in 2024 and finished as the first alternate at his venue. Soon after, however, Grayson Murray, who took his own life when he was the 61st-ranked golfer in the world, opened the door for Scott, who was then 61^st in the world, to take his place in the field as a result of the leading 60-ranked world golfers earning the right to play.

Of the 100 he has played already (including the 2001 Open Championship, which is not included in the run of consecutive events), Scott has made the cut on 74 occasions and been inside the top three on six occasions, his win at the 2013 Masters the standout along with his near miss when runner-up to Ernie Els at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012.

Adam Scott is a testament to longevity and, even at the age of still just 45, is considered by many to be one of the great statesmen of the game, his measured but well-thought-through opinions on the game and its administration valued by players, administrators, and golf fans worldwide.

Scott trails only Karrie Webb in terms of the number of majors played by Australians. Webb played 100 in her 23 years at that level, while Greg Norman competed in 90.

Not only has Scott become a highly regarded spokesperson for the game, but his golf has withstood the passage of time, continuing to compete at close to the highest level despite the rapid changes in technology and fitness, and as a father of three, he has displayed a great ability to compartmentalise his life in a manner that allows him to continue his remarkable run at such a level.

At Shinnecock Hills this week, Scott will play his 25^th US Open, two of those played at this venue. In both 2004 and 2018, Scott missed the cut at this venue. In fact, in four competitive rounds at Shinnecock Hills, Scott has not recorded a round better than 75, so his performance this week will be of much interest.

“I love Shinnecock,” added Scott. “I’ve played here a fair amount socially over the years. This is my third U.S. Open here. I haven’t played well in either U.S. Open, which is really disappointing to me, but hoping to change that this week.

“I still love the golf course. I think it’s as good as any test we have at the U.S. Open.

“I came up straight here from Ohio and played from last Thursday. I’ve played four practice rounds, and I came with a blank slate. It’s funny how when you play poorly at an event, you can forget about what went on, and I really don’t remember much of ’18 from a playing perspective.

“Came here excited on Thursday and really felt like I had a fresh look at the golf course and a fresh take and felt comfortable straight away. I think the green complexes aren’t dissimilar to playing into Royal Melbourne style greens. At least that’s what I’m telling myself, and that’s a comfortable place for me.

“I’m looking at it with a fresh set of eyes this week and feel like I’m much more prepared at this point than I was at the last two here.”

Deservedly, there will be a lot of attention on Scott’s milestone this week, and it is hoped that he can at least make it to the weekend so that his remarkable achievement gets the full recognition it deserves, and for him to continue his remarkable run as one of the game’s most impressive performers, irrespective of age.

Ryan Fox – file image PGA of America

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox might not have been able to successfully defend his RBC Canadian Open title this week near Toronto, but he gave every indication his game was in good shape to tackle next week’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills when he finished in a share of 8^th place after getting into a share of 3^rd place midway through his closing nine.

Fox was languishing at even par for the day and well off the pace when he reached the turn, but then came a hole out for eagle from 80 yards at the 12^th, and three consecutive birdies from the 14^th to open the door for a possible successful defence.

Bogeys at the 17^th and 18^th, however, and a relentless finish from first-time PGA Tour winner, Bid Cauley saw him finish five off the lead.

Cauley was playing his 239^th PGA Tour event, but until today, his best result had been when 3^rd on three occasions, much of his early career curtailed by a car accident during the Memorial Tournament in 2018, complications from which eventually kept him from playing competitively for three years.

Cauley finished two ahead of Matthew Fitzpatrick, who takes over as the leader in the FedEx Cup standings courtesy of his three wins earlier this season and now this runner-up placing.

Fox now heads to Shinnecock Hills to play his 8^th US Open, in which he has a best of 19^th in 2025.

Canadian Open Leaderboard

Ryan Fox – holds the trophy for the 2025 Canadian Open – file image

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox gets the chance to defend a PGA Tour title for the very first time when he tees it up at the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto this week, Fox unable to defend his first PGA Tour win at Myrtle Beach in May, as he had qualified for the opposite Signature event, the Truit Classic at Quail Hollow that week.

Last year, Fox won a dramatic playoff when he defeated Sam Burns at the 4^th extra hole at the same venue he tackles this week, the TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. He had earlier holed a lengthy putt at the 72nd hole just to get into the playoff.

Fox’s approach at the par 5 18^th (the 4^th occasion)with a fairway wood,  after the hole had been relocated during the playoff, finished 6 feet from the hole, and although he missed the eagle attempt, the birdie secured the victory.

Fox also finished 7th in the event at another venue on debut in 2024.

Fox is one of four Australasians in the field, the others being Karl Vilips, the out-of-form Cam Davis, and Davis’s fellow Sydneysider, Declan O’Donovan, who earned his start by winning the Canadian Amateur Championship in Quebec last year.

Donovan has subsequently turned professional but is still eligible to take up his entry into the event.

Fox has recorded just the one top ten in eleven starts in his third season on the PGA Tour, but that 7^th place was timely in that it came at the lucrative (US$20 million) Genesis Invitational, where he earned US$603,000.

The 39-year-old Aucklander is currently in 64^th place in the FedEx Cup standings and has banked US$1,651,000 thus far.

As the defending champion, Fox faced the media on Wednesday and enthused about the prospect of defending such a significant win in his career.

“It’s always great coming back to a course that you’ve got good memories at,” said Fox. “I love the golf course. I love the fans here last year. They treated me really, really well. I’m just seeing that plaque on 18 for the first time, and that brought back a lot of memories that have shot.

“I still think it’s the best shot I’ve ever hit. Yeah, I’ve seen my face in a few different places this week than I would normally, and that’s pretty cool.”

Fox was asked about the memories he carried from last year’s win.

“I think it’s the shot on 18. Then the other one that comes to mind is I distinctly remember standing up there, waiting to get this trophy, and I saw my kids in the background, not caring, just throwing sand in the bunker on the back of 18. I’ve got a lot of memories of that, and I’ve had a few people say that to me as well, that they really enjoyed seeing that. That’s a big memory for me of last year, too.”

A plaque has been installed on the 18^th to commemorate the magnificent fairway wood approach, which ultimately led to the win, and Fox had been excited at the prospect of seeing it first hand.

“I think the thing I was looking forward to the most was seeing the plaque on 18. I’ve never had one of those before, so that was a pretty cool novelty today. And today was the first time I saw it, literally 15, 20 minutes ago. So, to see that and also look at that second shot again and try to relive that memory. Yeah, that was pretty cool.”

Fox feels his game is not too far from where it needs to be for him to be a factor again this week.

“The game’s pretty close. I feel like I’ve said that a lot this year. There was a lot of good signs last week at Memorial. I played pretty decent for the most part at the PGA. I’ve just not really put everything together this year.

“There’s always something been wrong, whether I struggled with the putter, or last week I didn’t drive it great at Memorial. So, a week’s a long time in golf, and hopefully I can figure out how to put it all together this week, and, as I said, I like the golf course.

“I think that helps a little bit where you feel comfortable around a place, and it makes it easier to pick shots and commit to shots. So hopefully that helps me a little bit this week.”

Fox was asked his thoughts on the field this week, especially given the event’s place in the schedule as the lead-up event to next week’s US Open.

“I mean, for me, it seems like a stronger field than last year. Obviously, it’s a major for all the Canadians; all of the top Canadian guys are here, and it’s great to see.

“But having Brooks, Justin Rose, Tommy, Aaron Rai, Matt Fitz, his brother’s playing great as well. Yeah, I think this event holds — it’s a tough place in the schedule, there’s going to be guys just not wanting to play the week before a major, regardless of the event.

“There’s going to be guys that will play an event regardless the week before a major that they want to play. But I think it speaks to the history of this event. I think everyone who came out of this golf course last year really enjoyed it. I think we’ve got a stronger field than last year because of that, that everyone did enjoy themselves, that there’s such a great history at this event, and it is a pretty good warm-up for next week.

The US$9,800,000 event carries a first prize of US$1.764 million.

Leaderboard / Field

Karis Davidson – in action early in today’s third round – image USGA Logan Whitton 

Karis Davidson moved within three of the lead midway through her third round of the US Women’s Open at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles with birdies at the 1^st and 10^th holes, but agonising double bogeys at her 12^th and 15^th holes before a birdie at the 16^th and another at the last, saw her eventually finish with a round of 71 and at even par for her opening 54 holes.

While perhaps now out of contention for a very high finish, it has nonetheless been a spirited US Women’s Open debut for the 27-year-old Queenslander. who is six shots behind the joint leaders, Nelly Korda and Sei Young Kim and in a share of 18th place.

Appearing to be cruising with two birdies and nine pars when she reached the 12^th fairway, Davidson found herself just 104 yards from the hole after a powerful drive of over 280 yards. She hit a poor approach into the right-hand bunker, took two to get out, and the resultant double bogey saw her slip back in the field.

Another double at the 15^th after finding the left rough from the tee and coming up short with her approach saw her slip further back before a rebound birdie from 20 feet at the 16^th and another from 15 feet at the last.

Given the disappointment in the middle of her back nine, it was a great comeback for Davidson and leaves her not without the chance of what a week ago might have seemed a dream performance.

Without even a start in the event until the final spot became available, thanks to her alternate standing amongst the qualifiers, Davidson has gone steadily about her business on the demanding layout.

Davidson, who played her first couple of years as a professional on the Japan LPGA Tour before heading to the US in 2022, earned her status via the Q School in late 2001.

She played both the LPGA and Epson Tours in 2022, but has made steady progress since, to the point she has now made all nine cuts this season.

Tomorrow, she has a good opportunity to add considerably to the US$241,000 in LPGA earnings she has to her name already in 2026.

Of the other Australians, Minjee Lee is the next best after a 3rd round of 71 to be at 3 over and tied for 34th, Grace Kim at 4 over and Hannah Green, perhaps surprisingly, after a round of 75 in a share of 46th.

Leaderboard 

Daniel Hillier – file image courtesy of New Zealand Open / Photosport NZ

Several players were yet to complete their second rounds of the KLM Open in Amsterdam when darkness finally brought a halt to the weather-delayed round, but, irrespective of what happens in the final two hours of play when those players return to the course on Saturday morning, New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier will be very much in contention for a second DP World Tour title.

A strong finish to his opening round on early on Friday, after day one’s play had also been suspended, was followed by a blistering start to day two when the 27-year-old Wellingtonian birdied five of his first eight holes and was out in 30 to take a share of the lead.

Hillier birdied his 12^th and 13^th holes, but a bogey at his 15^th would cost him the chance of the lead through 36 holes. At 7 under after his round of 65, however, he trails Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg by just one, although he will need to wait until Saturday for his final 36-hole position to be determined.

Hillier’s form in 2026 has been mixed, beginning the season with two excellent finishes in the Middle East before his win at his own National Open in Queenstown, but in his next five starts, he would miss three cuts.

An impressive week at the PGA Championship, where he finished only midfield, but not all that far from contention, was encouraging, and although he missed the cut the following week, a 7^th place finish in Austria last week suggested things were in good shape.

The finish in Austria moved him to 10^th on the Race to Dubai ranking, and he has started this week as if he might well improve a few spots further by Sunday.

“There was a little bit tired,” said Hillier, referring to the additional holes he was forced to play.

“It was just one of those days where everything was in sync, which was nice, and seeing a couple of putts go in early gave me a bit of momentum.

“Hopefully I can get a good night’s rest tonight and come out firing tomorrow.”

Former New Zealand Open winner, Ryan Peake, has four holes to play in round two but at 4 under and just four from the lead, he has improved sharply on his recent run of five consecutive missed cuts. When he returns on Saturday morning, he has a 15 foot putt for birdie to move him within three of the lead.

Kazuma Kobori is the next best of the Australasians at 3 under and four from the lead, having completed a second round of 68.

Leaderboard