Adam Scott and the Presidents Cup is a story of unrequited love.
Scott, 44, loves the event but it hasn’t exactly loved him back. He has been playing in the biennial competition since 2003 and the Aussie star — past Masters champion, former world No. 1 and perennial winner for more than 20 years on the PGA Tour and around the world — has made or been chosen for every International Team since and still hasn’t tasted team victory.
It’s a dubious distinction but one he’s eager to have another chance to rectify this week at Royal Montreal Golf Club, site of the 2024 Presidents Cup. Scott not only will provide veteran leadership but he’s coming in with good form, having nearly won twice this summer. He finished runner-up at the Genesis Scottish Open in July and the BMW Championship in August to qualify for Mike Weir’s side as one of six automatic picks in the standings.
Scott also is a player director on the PGA Tour’s board of directors and discussed Tour business, his beautiful swing and what it was like having a Green Jacket in his closet for a year. Here’s Scott in a wide-ranging interview conducted just days before the Presidents Cup gets underway.
GWK: What are you recollections from your first Presidents Cup in 2003, the infamous tie in the dark in South Africa?
AS: Playing with Ernie Els, who was in the prime of his career, in South Africa, was incredible. He’s an absolute legend and he took me under his wing that week and I learned so much so quickly from him that served me well in my own career. It has given me a great relationship with him for over 20 years and I really cherish that week when I think back to that beginning there.
Then the competition itself was unreal. What an atmosphere Tiger, obviously, in the middle of his prime there, coming down to a playoff. I remember walking with Mike Weir, I was hanging with Mike through the playoff, and we were sitting above the second green where it all kind of ended, and Mike’s like, ‘I’m so nervous right now. I’m way more nervous than when I won the Masters.’ He wasn’t even playing.
I remember running down to the green and urging Ernie just to walk to the next tee because everyone was like, starting to convene on the green to meet about what should we do? And I’m like, ‘Get up there and play the next hole and win this thing.’ You know, I had full belief that he could. I’m sure he was probably somewhat relieved it was going to end there and he didn’t have to play more, but it was a quite a scene, I guess, at the time from (captains) Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player to share the Cup. However, in the heat of it all, I was pretty keen to see someone win and someone lose.
GWK: There has been calls to change the format of the Presidents Cup. Do you like the current format?
AS: I’m not going to complain about the current format because I’m on the losing side all the time. It would look like we’re sore losers. We’ve had these discussions, not you and me, but like amongst players and the PGA Tour of changing the format. And we did change it in 2015. This was the format that we settled on. Part of me feels like I don’t know why it’s not the same as the Ryder Cup (28 possible points) when that’s seemingly so successful. But you know they wanted a point of difference, and they’ve got two points of difference, actually.
GWK: What do you think of making it a mixed event?
AS: I don’t mind the idea of a mixed event but I don’t know that the Presidents Cup should be that. Despite the lack of competitiveness, I still think the event stands well on its own. I don’t think it’s uninteresting. The Ryder Cup was dominated by the United States for a long time also.
The International Team is trending in the right direction over the last couple of years. It hasn’t given us the win that we want, but I think as soon as it does it will change the perception of the tournament.
From behind the scenes, where I sit, a lot’s gone in from the International side, starting when Ernie (Els) took over as a captain, and Trevor (Immelman) and now Mike (Weir), building a team’s identity, giving it a home out on the tour for these guys. And we have guys like Tom Kim or Min Woo Lee who have grown up essentially their whole golfing life — it’s been their ambition to play under the International shield — and it’s a dream for internationals more than ever. So if we can get across the line and win, I think it’s going to change the whole perception of the event.
GWK: You were a captain’s choice in 2009 at Harding Park when you’re weren’t at the top of your game. How appreciative were you of that?
AS: It was a huge pick for me because I’d had a horrible year. Was my worst year ever. That pick was big because it came at the end of the season, got me motivated to work on my game and work myself out of the funk I was in, gave my confidence a little boost that Greg Norman and his assistants believed in me enough to put me on the team. I think I won my first match, but didn’t win a match after that, and we got a little bit trounced at Harding Park from memory, but off the back of that really turned the rest of my season around, and I ended up winning the Australian Open at the end of year, set off what I would call for the second part of my career.
GWK: Which Presidents Cup defeat hit the hardest?
AS: The 2019 one in Australia. That was a harsh one. The momentum was on our side all week, and really flipped upside down on Sunday. But personally, I didn’t play great against Xander (Schauffele). He got up on me early (in singles) and I started feeling the pressure a little bit, and he never let up. I got so far down that I couldn’t come back. I knew every match was getting important as I played throughout the round, and I felt like I’d let the side down. That one slipped through our fingers. It was months and months and months of trying to figure out how it slipped away because it felt like that was going to be our time. It would have been an epic victory to win there. It’s something that I’m still looking for in my career.
GWK: In 1983, Australia surprised the sailing world, winning the Americas Cup using a racing sailboard with a secret ‘winged keel.’ It was one of the greatest upsets in sports. Do you have a ‘winged keel’ equivalent for your International Team this year, and if so, what could it be?
AS: Won’t be much of a secret if I put it out there first! But I’ll go out and say that Min Woo Lee could be it, and Adam Scott could be it too. If I rate my own performance the last five Cups or so, I’d say I underperformed. And if I was being tough on Adam Scott, I’d say you better perform this time or don’t bother about trying to play another Presidents Cup.
GWK: Obviously as an Aussie, you’re ineligible to compete but have you ever daydreamed about playing in the Ryder Cup?
AS: No, I haven’t but I did go to the Ryder Cup for a day last year. Out of interest. I was close by, so I went down and got to watch these guys play. It was obvious to me, like this home course advantage has become a real thing in the Ryder Cup. Now, from the fans side of things, that’s probably the big difference compared to my experiences in the Presidents Cup that I saw.
GWK: I’ve got you penciled in for the 2028 captaincy in Melbourne. Would you want to do more than one tour of duty like Luke Donald, or do you think you’ll just do it once?
AS: I really don’t know. I sit here and think maybe I can still play in 2028, but I don’t think there’s any problem with doing more than one. I think you got to put the right name for the job. The tricky thing is it’s two years out all the time that you’re getting the job. So you know, a lot changes in that time. But I think Luke’s the right man for the job to do it a second time for Europe. He’s put everything on the line. I respect that a lot because he was great in Italy, and now he’s kind of coming into the cauldron of New York as the away captain. He’s putting it all on the line. So I have a lot respect that Luke is doing that.
GWK: You had a couple chances to win late in the season. Did something click? Or is it just season-ending determination?
AS: I think a little of both. I changed my equipment a little bit leading into the Scottish Open, and that clicked, for sure. That was a big unlock for me. All of a sudden, it’s easy to swing the golf club. Making this team on merit was important for me. I really didn’t want to leave Mike (Weir) in a position to have to pick an old bloke. I wouldn’t blame him for not picking me if I didn’t make it on merit. But you know, I want to contribute. I played this year, not in the top 50 on the FedEx Cup, not exempt into the signatures. I did get some invites and tried to take advantage of them, but I didn’t want to be in that position again either and I was determined to put myself in a great spot for next season. The reality is I’m 45 next summer. I hope I keep playing at a high level for years to come, but each year is lucky at this point that I get to do that. So, I’ve set myself up for a great season next year, and I want to make the most of it.
GWK: Was anything about falling short in those two real good chances to win discouraging?
AS: Not at the Scottish Open. I felt like I did well there, I felt good on the course. I had a tough putt on 18 to post a better number. It was like right down a ridge, and it was on line early, and that was hard to be super critical of that miss. I pride myself on locking in on those putts and knocking them in often but I didn’t sink that one. Still, it was pleasing to get back in contention there.
I was disappointed in Colorado. I was surprised I struggled so much on the greens on the weekend; it was tricky conditions on Sunday afternoon, the wind was blowing, the altitude and the firmness of the golf course, so the couple times I didn’t control the ball the best I paid the price because I didn’t knock any putts in for par that you’d hope to make. That was very disappointing for me because I think I played well enough to win that week. I let that opportunity pass me.
GWK: What season do you think is realistic for all the top players to be playing together again?
AS: I mean, I’d just be throwing a year out there. Realistic 2027, optimistic ’26.
GWK: Who among the PGA Tour executives and tour players has impressed you to the point that you have a different opinion of them since you joined the PAC and the board.
AS: Charley Hoffman, and that’s funny because I’ve known him the longest too. I spent last year on the PAC and listened to Charley. He’s the first one that comes to mind. Brian Harman, I’ve enjoyed listening to him give his perspective on things at the PAC level. And just generally, I would say the guys on the board have generally handled themselves well given some of the stuff that’s been thrown at them given some interesting times.
GWK: As a board member, you had this front row seat and some decision-making power in the transition to a for-profit organization with the billion-dollar-plus investment from SSG. Where is the money going to come from to give them a return on investment?
AS: It’s from improving the product in so many areas. Obviously they’re going to have to generate more revenue. It’s the same as any business now because we’re an enterprise business with profit and loss, and they’re going to try and generate more revenue, and probably going to try and reduce costs as well, you know. So I’m sure they’re looking at all of that as we speak.
GWK: How does it sit with the players that SSG gets paid first before the players actually get payouts?
AS: These things all had to be weighed up given the situation. Let’s say 12 months ago, for the sake of this, and where things were at and the threat that was out there with players being taken and weakening our Tour. The decision was made ultimately that if you want to say that is a favorable deal for this group of investors, that’s fine, but it’s also as favorable it is for them the idea was for it to strengthen the PGA Tour going into the future and give us the best chance to improve our product and go into the next TV contracts, which is our biggest revenue earner, in a good spot.
GWK: Where do you see pro golf in five years?
AS: I see it being stronger than ever. I think whether a deal is done with PIF or not, I see it in a good spot. The market will decide what it wants ultimately. Tthe PGA Tour is still, for sure, the strongest platform, has the strongest players, and even with a competitive other tour out there, I still think that will be OK for pro golf. I think it’s just a time of change and most people don’t like that.
GWK: Would you like to see the Tour buy the Ryder Cup?
AS: I don’t know, if it improves the Ryder Cup, sure, but it’s not really something that I think about. I know there are rumors about things like that from a business side of things but it’s not something that I think is the No. 1 priority.
GWK: How many times in your career have you heard you have the most beautiful swing?
AS: (Laughs) I’ve heard it a lot, which is nice. And you know, I wish it was producing the most beautiful shots all the time. It certainly doesn’t.
GWK: Whose swing do you consider to be the most beautiful?
AS: Tom Watson. I just think it evolved the most naturally. It looked like he never changed it to me. And he was a great player. So that influences, of course, but it looks like it just evolved so beautifully. He always understood what his swing DNA was I guess.
GWK: I always have heard when you were at UNLV and working with Butch Harmon you tried to do your best to duplicate Tiger’s swing, and you seem to have had the same great technique for 25 years with no real injuries. Have you tried any significant changes since he won the Tiger slam?
AS: I haven’t. I mean, I’ve fiddled around with some stuff, but I really haven’t found any secret sauce, other than at this point now, I definitely just understand that my swing is my swing, and I own it, and I know my tendencies, and I do my best to balance them out, especially under the heat of competition or pressure, and, yeah, I feel like it’s evolved.
But you know, as good as my body still moves at this age, it’s so nice watching young kids swing the club. Their body is so fluid and it’s very hard to make that happen as you get older.
GWK: If you could be Dr. Frankenstein and make the ultimate golfer, which part of whose game would you take?
AS: Cam Smith’s wedge and chipping, I think he’s the best currently. I could say Phil Mickelson but he’s lefty, so tricky. I would take Tiger’s iron play. It was the best for the bulk of his career. From, say, 2000-2020, his iron play never let him down, it was just so good. It never really let him down. Driving? Rory comes to mind. I’ve seen him drive the ball probably better than anyone ever. Putting… Tiger’s was pretty good. I got a couple of Tiger’s in there, but that’s fair enough.
GWK: What is your fondest memory of your year of being in possession of the Green Jacket?
AS: Gosh, what a great year that is to travel around with the Green Jacket. First off, having it be the first green jacket to make it down to Australia, it’s like this mythical piece of clothing that no one ever sees and certainly not in Australia. I think that was really fun. The other fun thing was when I left it on the back of the sofa and someone would see the jacket just sitting there. I think the first couple of times it was just coincidence that happened, but then I made it happen a few more times just to see the reaction because it got better every time.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Adam Scott unplugged: Presidents Cup, Green Jacket hijinks, when he thinks the best players will tee it up together more often again
