Aussie summer of golf excites Scott

By Michael Davis

ADAM Scott is making an emotional homecoming after three years to have another tilt at his home country’s national Open. 

Scott, 42, still ranked inside the top 30 players in the world, will tee it up in the Australian Open at Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs from December 1-4. 

Scott’s impressive 2022 saw him play in the final 30 at the FedEx Cup and in every major for the season, will close-out with an extended stay on Aussie shores with the 42-year-old set to also compete in another DP World Tour co-sanctioned event at the end of this month – the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland.

The two events will signal the Queenslander’s first appearances in Australia since 2019. He has previously won the Open (at New South Wales in 2009) and the PGA twice (in 2013 and 2019) and is regarded as one of Australia’s finest ever players, immortalised for his historic win at Augusta National in the 2013 Masters. 

He is the only Australian to have donned the coveted Masters green jacket.

Scott has played in the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open virtually every year since turning professional in 2000.  

“I’m rapt to be coming back to play for the first time in three years,” said Scott. 

“It’s been way too long, but the pandemic and the travel restrictions have made it tough on everybody and obviously we’ve had a couple of events put on hold during that time. 

“As a player it’s always an honour to come back and play before your home crowds. For me, that’s especially so in Queensland, but I also love playing on the magnificent courses of the Melbourne sandbelt, so I can’t wait to get back down there for both events and, hopefully, get a win or two. There is a real comfort level about coming back home to play.

“Most of us have had to leave home to play on the US Tour so it’s nice to be back in your comfort zone on home soil. It’s a nice feeling and I always receive overwhelming support.” 

PGA Tour of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman, said he was thrilled about Scott’s return to Australia.

“Adam’s a legend of our sport in this country, and we always welcome him with open arms. It’s not just his playing ability; he’s been a superb ambassador for golf. At a time when the sport is really building, to have a drawcard such as Adam back at Royal Queensland and in Melbourne to play is a big shot in the arm for us.”

James Sutherland, CEO of Golf Australia, added: “We couldn’t be more pleased to have Adam committed to the bigger events.  It’s great to be bringing the Australian Open back to Melbourne and with a new-look featuring men, women and All Abilities players competing on the same stages at the same time, and who better to be coming home to join that party than Adam Scott? 

“He’s been a great supporter of Australian golf and our events for a long time, and we look forward to big crowds following him around.” 

Father-of-three, Scott has won 14 times on the US PGA Tour and has career earnings on that tour of more than $US58 million. And he has won 11 times on the DP World Tour. 

His most recent tournament win was the Genesis Invitational in 2020 in Los Angeles. 

The prize pool for the men’s and women’s Opens is $1.7 million each. 

The Australian Open, from December 1-4, is supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria. Tickets, hospitality and VIP experiences are on sale via Ticketek now.