Great Scott!!!

It had been a long time since Adam Scott was ranked in the top 5 of the WGR’s, and even longer since his break through win at the 2004 Players Championship. After that win at Sawgrass most expects had this Burberry clad Australian as one of the contenders to test Tiger in the decades to follow. This has not exactly been the case. Although Scott has 17 professional wins worldwide (7 on the PGA Tour) his bout to be one of the top players in the world hit the skids following his 2008 win at the Byron Nelson. That win was a peak before a very large valley.

This downfall started shortly after his Nelson victory with a finger injury that seemed to bother Scott maybe more than it should have. Although respectable showings at the US Open and Open Championship that very same season, his MC at the PGA started a disturbing trend of four missed cuts in the next five majors. His only unblemish in that stretch was a less then impressive T36 at the 2009 US Open, not exactly the kind of performances those expects predicted out of Scott. Some explained his poor play on his injury, while others blamed it on his inconsistent and sometimes downright awful putting; while even others talked about his personal life and breakup with his long time girlfriend as the major distraction. But one this was for sure Scott was not playing the kind of golf he had been expected to play.

Although Scott was Greg Norman’s final captain’s pick for the 2009 International Presidents Cup squad, he did not exactly step up as he finished the weekend 1-4 in his matches leading to the US blowout victory. But maybe this confidence that one of the best Australian’s of all time placed on Scott did something for the young man entering the 2010 season. No one would confuse his season thus far as something of genius for Scott, but it has been a step in the right direction. It started with a much-improved T18 performance at the Masters and lead to his outstanding 54-hole weekend in San Antonio.

Rain battered much of Central and Eastern Texas washing out Friday at the Velero Texas Open. But the guys tried their best to play catch-up with a 36 hole Sunday effort. What they didn’t realize is that they had to play catch-up to Adam Scott who’s magical 36 hole Sunday of 66-67 paved the way to his one stroke victory over hard charging Swede Freddie Jacobson. Scott totally found his game, and more importantly found magic in a place that had toyed with him for so long…his flat stick. Aside from a par miss at the 72nd, which slightly opened the door for Jacobson, his Sunday putting was as good as ever. This win marked Scott’s 3rd victory in the state of Texas (08 Nelson and 07 Houston). He will have the chance to clinch the career Texas-slam in two weeks at Colonial.

But for now, he has reintroduced himself on the world stage and may be primed to make a major championship run. He is just 2 months shy of 30, but will get that final chance to cash in that major win in his 20’s at Pebble Beach next month. If he could somehow pull that one out, he could start the prime of his career the way many expected. Either way, he will be teeing it up at the Tradition Unlike Any Other next Spring and who knows, maybe just maybe he’s bound for something even greater. If not, he’s still dating Ana Ivanovic, and that’s great too!