 |
| Striding towards a 4 shot win |
Adam was touted as the next 'big thing' in the game after he burst onto the European Tour circuit 10 years ago. His spell in 2001-2002 during which he won the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Qatar Masters and the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship by an incredible 10 shots, was a run of form from a 22 year old that was nearly unprecendented in modern European Tour history. He was labelled as a 'Tiger Woods clone' at the time. Not just for this talents and success, but with the way he went about it. His swing appeared to the eye, as being highly similar to Tiger's Butch Harmon design, and his demeanour was robotic. But Adam's stoic demenour wasn't an example of of him being aloof, but merely shy. Success continued to follow Adam as he ventured onto the PGA Tour, claiming his first title in 2003 at the Deutsche Bank Championship, before following it up the following Spring by winning after an impressive up and down from 100 yards at the 18th, the Players Championship. Adam was at 24 years old, a multiple winner on both the worlds major Tours, and the holder of a Championship, that is viewed by many as being the 5th most prestigious in Golf. The success continued with a further four PGA Tour titles collected within the next 3 years, alongside top ten finishes at the 2006 Open and PGA Championship's led to a career high ranking of 3rd in the January of 2007. However, the Summer of 2008 brought about a decline that saw Adam fall from 3rd to 34th in the world. With the deterioration of his putting, Scott lost all confidence and drifted away out of relevancy, labelled by the golfing media as yet another 'underachiever'.
 |
| 2004 Players Champion at Sawgrass |
This victory at Firestone marks a complete turnaround in Scott's game, which began with victory at the 2010 Valero Texas Open, and included his close second place finish at Augusta National earlier this year. That performance at this years Masters allowed Adam to fully demonstrate his touch with the controversial broomhandle putter. Adam led with 3 holes to play, only for a unprecedented finish from Charl Schwartzel, snatched the Green Jacket away from the popular Aussie. This long putter has given Scott a new lease of life, and having used it masterfully at Augusta, has stuck by it over an average Summer period, and boy, has he earned the rewards.
Adam's performance at Firestone will rank up there with the very best of the year. Not quite Rory McIlroy at Congressional, but not that far from it. His ball striking from tee to green was as solid as ever. He tightened up his swing at the start of the year, and his driving was even better than usual. A fact illustrated by his ranking of 15th in Accuracy and 5th in Distance at Firestone, a very impressive set of figures off the tee. An average of 26.5 putts for the week allowed him to take advantage of the many birdie chances he offered himself, and also minimised the damage from any mistakes during the week. He has adapted to the long putter as well as, if not better, than anyone I've ever seen. You can almost see the confidence flowing through his body, brushing 8 footers confidently in for par when he had to, something that 18 months ago would seem unthinkable. It has turned Adam Scott into a complete golfer. A winning Golfer. Many, including myself, have questioned whether Adam has an edge to go on and win big Championship's down the stretch. However, as he showed at Augusta, he can cope with the pressure a Major Championship, and the win at Firestone will have validated all claims that Adam Scott can go on and win one of the big four. He is more than capable than going on to have have a golden decade.
 |
| Adam Scott - 2011 WGC Bridgestone Invitational Champion |
This WGC title marks the opening of a new chapter in the career of Adam Scott. Now into his 30s, with the experienced Steve Williams now by his side, who decided to pedal his own obnoxious agenda and made attacks towards Tiger Woods after being stupidly asked by CBS's David Feherty for a post tournament interview. Adam now has all of the ingredients within his game and backrground to have a golden decade in his 30s, similar to that of Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Davis Love III, who all went onto win their Major's in the middle period of their careers. Adam is more than capable of going ahead and achieving similar things and become a Major Champion. However without dwelling on him for too long, I must mention Williams, whose outburst has criminally stolen the headlines from Adam. His comments were selfish, arrogant and poorly timed, without any thought for his new player. Ultimately, for all of his disdainful qualities, Steve Williams is a very able caddie, as illustrated by his great work alongside a rejuvenated Raymond Floyd in the 1990s before his historic and now infamous 13 year tenure alongside Tiger Woods. He will say the right things to Adam during a highly pressured round, and it must give the Australian an extra bit of confidence having someone so successful by his side.
 |
| What's up Gents? Had a little falling out have we? Dear, dear. |
 |
| Ishikawa impressed |
As for the field that Adam Scott defeated? Many positives can be taken away by these talented players. Rickie Fowler, coming off of his impressive performance at the Open Championship, shot a final round 66 that gave the young American his first 2nd place in a WGC. Rickie still hasn't won yet on Tour, but he is coming ever closer. He is performing well in final rounds, as illustrated at Sandwich and now at Firestone, and will win his first title soon. It could even be a big one for the talented 22 year old. Fowler was tied in second alongside world number one Luke Donald, who coming off from his missed cut at the Open, was looking for a good week moving into Atlanta. This was the perfect warmup for Luke (who remember won at Castle Stuart the weeek before the Open) and you would have to fancy that Donald will be a factor next Sunday at the PGA. Ryo Ishikawa gave his best showing in the United States, and perhaps most intriguingly, his tie for 4th earns him enough non member money, that he could take up temporary membership on the PGA Tour. That would be a very welcome move with the American golfing public, and one that Ryo needs to make sooner rather than later if he is to further develop his incredibly talented skills. Finally what about the story coming into the week, Tiger Woods? Well, a tie for 37th this place is world class compared to his efforts here 12 months ago, and his game at times looked very good. He drove the ball well on occasions, his distance control with his mid to short irons was exemplary, and he even made some putts infrequently. However, these factors rarely came together, but ultimately it has to be viewed as a successful comeback. The leg looked strong, he completed 4 rounds and played pretty well given the circumstances. Whether he goes on to contend in Atlanta is another question, it might have come a week too soon, but what we do know from this week is that Tiger is capable of remaining a factor in the game for some time yet.
 |
| Rickie Fowler is getting closer to that first win |
It was a wonderful week, which included great golf, dramatic stories coming in, controversy to close it out, but ultimately, one deserving champion in Adam Scott. Who might even go on from here and contend for a unique double that only Woods, the player a young Adam was often compared to, has achieved.
See you at the PGA!
No comments:
Post a Comment