2 days ago
Adam Scott gears up for another US Open, continuing his impressive majors streak at Oakmont
Adam Scott is one year away from an impressive streak that the Australian considers to be a classic glass-half-full moment in golf.
This week's US Open, which begins on Thursday evening (AEST), is his 96th consecutive major championship appearance dating to the 2001 Open Championships at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
"It sounds like a lot to have won one," Scott said humorously, referring to his lone major title in the 2013 Masters.
"It would be twice as good if there was one more."
Still, he realises he is approaching a big milestone.
The PGA Championship next year, assuming he qualifies or gets an invitation, will be his 100th career major. He could make it 100 in a row if he makes it to Shinnecock Hills for next year's US Open.
A streak like that requires eligibility and good health. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson only had eligibility in their favour.
Woods played 46 straight majors until knee surgery after he won the 2008 US Open. Mickelson played 61 in a row before he sat out the 2009 British Open as his wife was being treated for breast cancer.
The record is among the most untouchable in golf — Jack Nicklaus played 146 major championships in a row from the 1962 US Open through the 2008 US Open.
"Probably whenever it ends, whether it's 100 or more or less, I think it will be hard for guys to get to that number going forward," Scott said.
"I think it's getting harder. And I think I have been a consistent player over a 25-year career.
"I could probably pick three troughs where my game was looking pretty ordinary and I fell outside the top 50 and I was really struggling. But over 25 years, I'd expect that of almost any player."
Scott has had a few close calls with the US Open in the past which could have ended his streak.
He made it through 36-hole qualifying with one shot to spare in 2018.
He failed to make it through qualifying last year but was the first alternative and was called up following a withdrawal. \
Scott said Mickelson and Rory McIlroy are among the few who never went through bad spells or serious injury, "and we're talking about two of the greatest of their generation".
McIlroy's streak was interrupted when he injured his left ankle and could not play the 2015 Open Championship. This week's US Open is McIlroy's 39th consecutive major.
Scott will tee off at 9:18pm (AEST) on Thursday, playing with 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, and two-time US PGA Tour winner Ludvig Åberg.
AP
