[Photo: Getty images]
Adam Scott knows he’s in a race against Father Time but after contending in the past two majors he feels in pole position to try and win the Open Championship at Royal Portrush this week.
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Scott is among a nine-strong Australian contingent at Portrush including 2022 Open champion Cam Smith, Curtis Luck, Elvis Smylie, Jason Day, Ryan Peake, Min Woo Lee, and Lucas Herbert.
Scott played in the final group at last month’s US Open at Oakmont and was tied for the lead at one stage on the final day but in horrendous weather faded to T-12 result. The American national open came a month after Scott, 45 today, was three shots back with seven to play at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow where he finished T-19.
Open Championship 2025: Ryan Peake receives dream group at Portrush, Aussie tee-times AEST
Now at Portrush, Scott urged himself to strike while the irons are hot. He’s got plenty of history at the links major, having suffered a devastating runner-up after leading by four shots with four to play at the 2012 Open while he was in contention in 2013, 2015 and last year at Royal Troon.
He urged himself to throw his hat into the ring this week in Northern Ireland.
“Time’s ticking away; I’d say this week’s my best chance is going to be my best chance, given that I’m only going to get older and it’s likely going to get harder,” Scott told Australian Golf Digest at Portrush, ironically on his birthday Wednesday. “I’ve put myself in a good spot, which I’m really pleased about and optimistic. I still think the dream can come true.”
Scott played a practice round with fellow Queenslander Smylie on Wednesday. Picture: Getty
Fuelling his confidence is the fact Scott is longer off the tee than ever before. At Oakmont, he made waves on social media for regularly reaching ball speeds of over 188 miles an hour with the driver. During a practice round at Portrush with young Australian Elvis Smylie, Scott was regularly driving the ball 15 metres past 22 year-old Smylie. His ball0striking was exceptional and putting sublime during a brilliant 18-hole practice round at Portrush in sunny conditions.
“I probably am hitting it as far as ever,” Scott said. “I’m trying to keep up with these guys and and remain relevant out here. It’s, it’s more often, you know, like I said, I feel like, on a given week, my good stuff can play with them, but if, if I was, you know, tapering off on the speed and everything, then there’d be even less weeks that I was in with a chance. So I’m trying to give myself big chances. That’s the way the game’s moving. And when guys like Rory drive it, like he does at Augusta, like it’s going to be hard to beat him if you’re 50 metres behind him.”
Although there was disappointment after stumbling at Oakmont, a golden opportunity while leading after 11 holes in the final round, Scott left Pittsburgh with a resolve. He’s feeling confident after also being just outside contention at Royal Troon during last year’s Open Championship.
“I’m definitely taking a little bit of confidence out of that, because it’s been a few years since I felt like I was contending,” he said. “I like my form. :
Reminded that the last time suffered a significant level of heartbreak at the majors – the 2012 Open where he made four bogeys to lose the claret jug to Ernie Els – he bounced back eight months later to win the 2013 Masters, Scott laughed and observed Oakmont wasn’t close to the disappointment at Royal Lytham that year. But he said he was motivated to bounce back like he did at Augusta National.
“Maybe not exactly the same way, but I feel like my game’s turning into the place where I’m always trying to see if it’s my week; I can match it at least with the best guys, maybe not week in, week out, but my good golf is enough to win,” Scott said.
AUSSIE TEE-TIMES IN AEST
Player AEST Tee-Times (Thursday / Friday) Group Partners
Ryan Peake 4:19pm Thurs / 9:20pm Fri Phil Mickelson, Daniel Van Tonder
Marc Leishman 8:26pm Thurs / 3:35pm Fri Stewart Cink, Matteo Manassero
Adam Scott 9:09pm Thurs / 4:08pm Fri Rickie Fowler, Ethan Fang (A)
Cameron Smith 3:57pm Thurs / 8:58pm Fri Marco Penge, Justin Hastings (A)
Min Woo Lee 11:37pm Thurs / 6:36pm Fri Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley
Lucas Herbert 4:52pm Thurs / 9:53pm Fri Darren Clarke, Davis Riley
Jason Day 4:08pm Thurs / 9:09pm Fri Taylor Pendrith, Jacob Skov Olesen
Curtis Luck 8:04pm Thurs / 1:59am Sat Daniel Young, Curtis Knipes
Elvis Smylie 9:20pm Thurs / 4:19pm Fri Laurie Canter, Sergio Garcia
