Adam Scott looms as key man for Internationals vs USA, career resurgance, ranking, dates #adessonews

As time has gone on, Adam Scott’s desire to fill the “huge hole” in his resume has only burned brighter.

Ten consecutive Presidents Cup appearances for the International team for nine straight defeats after a tie on debut makes for sorry reading for the 44-year-old.

He could be forgiven for losing hope, or his passion for fronting up in the biennial event, but that’s not how Australia’s only Masters champion operates.

Mid-year it seemed a historic 11th time suiting up for the International may be out of the question but a stunning run of form across the Scottish links and the Fed-Ex Cup playoff secured his place in Montreal via an automatic qualification place.

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That stretch included runner-up finishes at the Scottish Open and the BMW Championship as well a tie for 10th at The Open and fifth at the Tour Championship which arguably makes Scott the most in-form player on the International team.

The Queenslander is sure to play a key role in their bid to claim a second win in the event’s 30-year history and he understands that time is running out for him to finally taste victory.

“It seems longevity is a bit of a theme around me at the moment… but winning a Presidents Cup is a huge hole in my resume,” Scott told Australian Golf Digest.

“I don’t know if there will be anymore Presidents Cups or not. It’s getting to that point.”

It is not the first time Scott has expressed his fear of never experiencing the jubilation compatriots Greg Norman, Steve Elkington, Stuart Appleby and Craig Parry did at Royal Melbourne in 1998.

He made similar comments at the 2019 edition – which was also staged at Royal Melbourne – which ring true today.

“I think it (winning) would probably mean a lot more to me than I’ve ever thought,” Scott said at the time.

“I see this event carrying on into the future and it will be incredibly disappointing if I played all these and never won a Presidents Cup.

“I feel I’d be missing something.”

The notion of an empty void in his glittering career – that has also included being world No.1 and racking up 40 professional wins – prompted Scott to undertake a reconnaissance mission last year.

For the first time in his life, he attended the Ryder Cup, and he soaked in the drama of the Saturday sessions which included Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s caddy Joe La Cava aggressively trading insults on the 18th green, and in the car park later that night.

Scott was at Marco Simone in Rome for sponsor commitments, but his mind was firmly focused on creating a scouting report for International team captain Mike Weir ahead of this week’s Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada.

“I planted some seeds with Mike for him to think about,” Scott said.

“You will have noticed like Corey (Conners), Min Woo (Lee) and Mac (Mackenzie) Hughes played (the PGA Tour’s Procore Championship) in Napa last week and played pretty well.

“We’re making sure our guys are really prepared and will show up at Montreal ready.”

Scott, Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An meanwhile teed it up on the other side of the Atlantic at the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England.

The Internationals have placed an emphasis on being battle-ready.

It was born from the idea that the Americans’ lack of tournament play in the five weeks between the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup proved to be costly against a sharper European outfit.

Scott had been playing alongside the Europeans on the DP World Tour in the lead-up to the Ryder Cup and was captivated by the spotlight which shone on Europe’s representatives at those events which included the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship.

“The European Tour really embraced their Ryder Cup players during those two weeks,” Scott said.

“They put them on a pedestal and announced them as ‘Ryder Cuppers’ everywhere. Everyone bonded. Half the team ate breakfast together every morning at Wentworth.”

From witnessing the European preparations, Scott is ensuring that the team comes together for practice rounds and bonding sessions.

‘GOING TO FEEL LIKE A HOME GAME’

Banding together has been a constant challenge for the International team but since 2019, they have found unity through the symbolism of the shield which is proudly displayed on team shirts, jumpers and caps.

“It’s this shield, this shield that we have (that galvanises us),” Weir said.

“We are a culmination of guys coming from all over the world trying to come together for one week. We feel like we’re all part of the same team. (The shield) has brought us closer together.”

The fighting spirit brought to life by the shield will come in handy against yet another star-studded American team.

Five of the top ten players in the Official World Gold Rankings – including world number one Scottie Scheffler and two-time major winner this year Xander Schauffele – will be donning the red, white and blue.

The Internationals on the other hand only have 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama ranked inside the top ten in the world while Scott and fellow Australian Jason Day are the only other major winners on the International team compared to the USA boasting six major champions.

“There’s no doubt on paper, we’re the underdogs again, but our team is fairly good and there’s more depth than we have most years,” Scott said.

“I’m very positive.

“I played the Canadian Open this year up in Hamilton, and it was like a major. The Canada versus USA rivalry is a bit like Australia versus New Zealand.

“With Mike as captain and three Canadians playing, they’re going to make this feel like a home game for us.”

As for his own desperation to win, Scott is more focused on how it will benefit the Presidents Cup going forward than his own legacy.

Mesmerised by the vocal crowds and captivated by the drama in Rome last year, Scott – who has hinted that he is all but certain to captain the International team at Kingston Heath in Melbourne in 2028 – envisions the Presidents Cup one day matching the standing of the Ryder Cup within the world of golf.

“I would like to have a better record personally, and I’m keen to turn that around,” Scott – who has won 18, lost 25 and tied six matches for the Internationals to date – said.

“As far as the competition goes, we’re 30 years into the Presidents Cup and that sounds like a really long time, but we need to be more competitive.

“The Internationals need to win in Montreal, and then eventually we need to win in America, to really validate this competition to the level the Ryder Cup is.”