By Evin Priest – US PGA Tour editor
Adam Scott’s US Open predicament has dominated recent coverage of players who aren’t, or weren’t, eligible for Shinnecock Hills.
And that’s fair enough – he is Adam Scott. He is a former world No.1 and a winner of the Masters among 13 US PGA Tour titles.
Scott climbed to an agonisingly close to sneaking inside the world’s top 60 golfers who earn starts at the year’s second major.
He rose to world No.61 after a tie for ninth –Â his first top 10 in almost 12 months – at last week’s Byron Nelson event in Texas, meaning he missed out on yesterday’s US Open qualification via the world rankings.
He will get two more opportunities – sectional qualifying in Columbus, Ohio the day after the Memorial Tournament and then the June 11 world rankings cut-off.
Scott has played in every major championship since the 2001 British Open, meaning his active streak of 67 straight on golf’s biggest stage is beaten only by Sergio Garcia’s 75.
But Scotty’s US Open plight has overshadowed a very, very impressive return to form by one Chesson Hadley.
The likeable American, this time last year, was ranked world No.577 and playing on the Web.com Tour.
Hadley picked up two Web victories, a ticket to the US PGA Tour for this season and, after and five straight top-20s in the top flight, has rocketed to No.60 on the rankings.
The 30-year-old Hadley will make his US Open debut next month when the tournament heads to the Long Island’s famed Shinnecock Hills.
It’s a funny game.
