GWD_MAY_16

stroke is buried in the annals of golf and
the above mentioned youth brigade is on
an intimidating roll?
Those close to him dismiss the
suggestion his time is over. They say it’s
not the work ethic; he continues to grind
privately in his off weeks. It’s certainly not
waning desire… reports have him
bursting with energy for the new year.
Rather it is the transition and adjustment
to new life itself.
“He’s had some big changes in his life
the last two years. He got married, was
number one in the world, had a baby, had
to think all year about what to say about
the Olympics, has had to think about
what to do with the long putter, changed
caddies. That’s a lot of major issues in the
last 12-24 months to deal with mentally,”
fellow one-time major winner and
respected analyst Ian Baker-Finch says.
Scott himself has stopped short of
putting any blame on his family changes
but the fact is he’s as doting a dad as you
will see and with little Bo Vera in the mix
his rigid schedules of practice and
preparation may have adjusted just enough
to conspire ever so sightly against his golf.
“I have always seen him as the ultimate
pro. He is very disciplined, determined
and even ruthless in terms of only doing
what is right for him. He has always had
a unique schedule because it is all about
winning major championships,” another
one-major man, Justin Rose, says.
“I don’t think he is concerned with
world rankings, or fame or dollars, he’s
just on a mission to win as many majors as
he can.
“But last year was a tricky year, with his
first kid, and maybe the putting thing, just
dealing with a lot of other things. Trying
to balance all of that, you want to be the
‘Look at Phil Mickelson. He’s always been incredibly
talented but didn’t win a major until he was 34 and
now he’s won five. There is plenty of fight in me yet’
best parent you can be and I find that a
challenge, a welcome one, with golf, to be
focused at both and give 100 per cent.”
Scott also changed his equipment at the
start of 2015 and struggled with the
adjustments. As his iron play became a
little more wayward, the pressure and
blowtorch was applied to his putting. And
the broomstick failed spectacularly at
times, eating away at inner confidence.
But if it was all simply part of
transition, there are signs he is moving out
of the phase and back into sync. He was
runner-up with a short putter late last year
in Malaysia and again at his home
Australian Open.
“I think once he gets his mind wrapped
around what he’s doing with his putter,
CLOSE BUT NO
CIGAR
Scott has
been in
serious
contention to
win five other
majors in the
last five years
– only to let
them slip
away.
2011 Masters, T2nd
Scott shot a final round of 67 but Charl
Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to
edge him by two strokes.
2012 Open, 2nd
He had a four-shot lead heading into the final
round, but he bogeyed the final four holes to
open the door for Ernie Els.
56 Golf World May 2016