By Rob Willis
IT began at the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, when Adam Scott finished in a tie for 47th in his major championship debut.
While no doubt a young player of promise, little did he, or anyone else in the golfing world for that matter, know it would be the start of a remarkable career and an incredible streak.
Following an appearance at the US Open at Pinehurst last month, where he was forced to go through a 36-hole qualifying event before being granted one of the final places in the tournament field, Scott now heads to Royal Troon in July for what will be his 93rd consecutive appearance in golf’s four major championships.
That’s 93 straight events, over a 23-year period, without missing a single major, a mark bettered by only Jack Nicklaus who holds the record with an unparalleled 146 in a row.
With a victory at Augusta in 2013, a runner-up finish at the 2012 Open Championship and top five’s in the PGA Championship and US Open amongst his best results and highlights, Scott’s record is a display of immense talent, but also of his work ethic, resilience and mental application.
Prior to the US Open in June, Scott’s peers expressed their admiration in regard to the amazing streak.
The Open Championship at Royal Troon will be Adam Scott’s 93rd consecutive appearance in a major championship.
“It’s unbelievable. I heard about it last week and had to ask, is that right?” American Sam Burns told PGATour.com.
“What is that, 23 years? It’s insane. Adam Scott is world class player and has been a world class player for many, many years, so it’s pretty cool to see.”
“I don’t think I can truly fathom it,” Billy Horschel added. “We are all just in awe when we think about it. I’m 37 and when I was 14, he was playing in his first major and has played every major since. I just can’t wrap my head around it.”
South Korean Si Woo Kim was unashamedly another admitting to being a big Scott fan.
“I love him. That is a crazy number. It’s so hard to do it, even three or four years in a row is hard, but that’s crazy.”
Recently retired tennis legend Roger Federer, a friend who shares an apparel sponsor with the 43-year-old Queenslander, was amongst others to express admiration in his Scott’s achievement.
While a start in the Open Championship in July was confirmed when he qualified courtesy of his finish at the 2023 Australian Open, and next April he is guaranteed of an invitation to play at Augusta as a former champion, in the weeks leading up to Pinehurst Scott’s place in the field was uncertain.
With a world ranking right around the 60-bubble, which would have meant automatic exemption, Scott was forced to enter final qualifying, for only his second time in the past 20 years. Competing in Ohio, Scott lost a playoff for the final spot to fellow Aussie Cam Davis, and when his ranking slipped to 61 after the Memorial Tournament, looked likely to be a US Open spectator.
PGA Australia Fortinet Adam Scott at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland golf course, November 24th 2023.
Circumstances dictated otherwise, Scott would be granted a special exemption into the tournament by the USGA to continue the streak, the US Open turned out to be major championship #92, with the upcoming Open Championship to continue a run matched or eclipsed by only one man.
This year’s event at Pinehurst also represented Scott’s 23rd consecutive US Open appearance, in a tournament where his best showing has been a tie for fourth in 2015.
While never quite in the hunt or a chance of victory following a disappointing 76 on Saturday, a strong final round of 69 propelled Scott up the leaderboard at Pinehurst in the championship spectacularly won by Bryson DeChambeau. Scott’s seven-over par total left him in a tie for 32nd.
Of the other Australians at the US Open, Min Woo Lee led the way, shooting 285, five-over, to be tied 21st, Cameron Smith finished level with Scott on seven-over, while Jason Scrivener, Jason Day and Cameron Davis all missed the 36-hole cut.
At the Open Championship, scheduled for July 18-21 at Royal Troon, five Australian’s are currently exempt from final qualifying, including Scott, Lee, Smith, Day and Victorian amateur Jasper Stubbs.
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