Since 2001 Adam Scott’s year-end Official World Golf Ranking has been 50th or better.
Ahead of Sunday at the Australian PGA Championship and next week’s Australian Open, he is 64th in the world ranking.
Scott looks set to keep his magnificent record going however. The 2013 Masters champion and former world number one is currently in a share of sixth place and two shots off the lead at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
The Australian has found some decent form late in the year, which included retaining his DP World Tour playing rights in Korea but it’s been an overall disappointing season for him which has seen him slip from 18th in the world without a top-10 finish.
“Even though it’s late in the year, some good results can really carry some momentum into next year and that’s what I really haven’t had this year,” said Scott who has a chance to win for the first time since the 2020 Genesis Championship which lifted him to world number seven.
“So big weeks for me. Obviously I want to play well in front of a home crowd but also carry a little momentum and confidence into next season and make the most of it.”
For the 45-year-old it’s been the putter which has been the achilles heel after finding some success on the greens in recent seasons.
“My putting was really ordinary this year after putting great for three or four years,” he said.
“I didn’t play that poorly but when you’re playing against the best players in the world all the time, you need to be pretty sharp. It was frustration — the ball rolling past the hole was kind of how this year felt. My last outings were a little better, saw a few more go in, so I’ll be looking for that this couple of weeks.”
Scott is on course to join an exclusive club next year also. He is one more appearance away from competing in his 100th consecutive major championship – only Jack Nicklaus has achieved such a feat.
Scott has a lifetime exemption to the Masters tournament, but he still feels like he can compete in golf’s top events.
“I’m starting to turn into that kind of old golf pro who’s out there,” he joked.
“But personally, I feel physically and mentally able to do it still. Fortunately I’m not in aches‑and‑pains phases yet and I’m really motivated. I really think I just need to sharpen up my focus a little bit and get back in that winning circle.”
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