In an interview with Australian Golf Digest’s PGA Tour editor Evin Priest, Adam Scott grades his 2018 season, talks through his plans for 2019 and details why he is skipping the Australian summer of golf this year.
Australian Golf Digest: What influenced your decision to sit out the Australian summer events this year?
Adam Scott: Well, it’s a balancing act. You want to go back and play the Australian events as much as you can but (as a top-50 player in the world) you also need to put your best foot forward. If you don’t, you won’t be able to consistently compete at a high level and I feel that also does a lot for Australian golf.
It doesn’t sit particularly well with me and it’s weird to think I won’t be playing in Australia, but it is the right decision for me this year. When I do play at home, I try to make time for an off-season with my family but that usually means taking off December and January in order to start the American golf calendar in February. That puts you on the back foot in terms of world rankings and FedEx Cup points, because a lot of guys are playing as many events as they can in the wraparound season from October right through to February.
I’m going to play some events on the PGA Tour’s Asia swing and then shut it down for the year. Hopefully, by playing in Asia, I can get myself into a strong position so I have complete freedom with my schedule – be able to focus on the Majors and the Players and peak at the right times. I’ve done it before.
Some of the fans on social media were disappointed, but they also understood you taking a year off after playing 17 of the past 18 Aussie summers. Why have you placed an emphasis on coming back to Australia
so often?
It is important to go back and play down in Australia. I grew up idolising Greg Norman and seeing him come back and play in Australia every year – as well as guys like Finchy and Grady – was really important to my career. I loved seeing them play in person. I play every week on tour feeling like I am representing Australia. I try my hardest on the golf course and, as an Aussie sports figure I guess you’d call me, I try to carry myself as a role model.
It’s now more than two years since your last win, but there were some encouraging results in 2018. How would you rate your season out of 10?
I started playing nicely this past summer in the US, and I want to encourage that to continue. I have very high expectations of my game, and 2018 was a transition year back into form. There were some really good signs; I teed off on Sunday at The Open and the PGA Championship with good chances to win.
But, overall, I would probably only give myself a 6.5 if I had to rate it out of 10. I’m tough on myself because I know the high level I can perform at.
What was the thought process in deciding to start 2019 at the Sony Open?
I feel starting 2019 at the Sony Open in Hawaii will be a good early indication of where my game is at well before big events kick off from March onwards. I really enjoy Waialae Country Club; not only is it nice to start in Hawaii but the course is sneaky tricky. If you play great, you can really score, but if you’re not sharp it will really show on the scorecard.
The last time I started in Hawaii (in 2016), I finished second at Riviera in my next start and then won the following two events in Florida. I’m not saying that’s going to happen again, but it does seem to work for me.
Will you be back playing in Australia next year?
I’m looking forward to going back next year, especially with the Presidents Cup coming to Royal Melbourne.
I certainly cherish playing back home; the best thing we can do as players is to come back and support the (Australasian) tour. The fans have been so good to me throughout the years and their support has meant a lot.
