11 hours ago
Adam Scott opens up on Oakmont agony and shows his true colours at Travelers
The Aussie ace delivers scintillating Saturday as he refuses to let pain linger
Determined Adam Scott has lifted the lid on the letdown of US Open heartbreak and his desire to fight straight back off the canvas at The Travelers.
The Aussie ace put himself position to win a cherished second Major of his stellar career last week at Oakmont only to endure a last-day nightmare.
As JJ Spaun pipped Bob MacIntyre to the title , Scott, who was playing his 96th straight Major, slipped back to be a late-Sunday also-ran with a torturous 79 and it was a bitter disappointment.
The 44-year-old, who was aiming to add to his 2013 Masters success, didn't attempt to hide that it was a sore one to take, but Scot's response has been typical of the professionalism and outstanding attitude which has made him one of the most admired and respected stars in the game.
The Adelaide-man built back up through the opening two days at TPC River Highlands before unleashing a stunning eight-under par round of 62 on Saturday.
It equalled Scott's lowest-ever round on Tour and he outlined the drive to get back on the bike and go again after the anguish of the Oakmont finale.
Asked if the US Open setback was a physical or mental drain, Scott said: 'It was a tough one. It was like a real letdown draining, not like a confidence and fatigue. It was a big letdown on Sunday last week. I knew I was going to have to play this week, but I actually think now the last couple years having these Signature Events after Majors, not that I've been in contention at all the Majors, but having to change my habits a little bit.
'For my whole career, I pretty much took every week off after a Major and, all of a sudden, we're playing big events right on the back of it. So I'm using Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday wisely, I think is big for me.
'I think just having been out here so long, knowing that it can be one round or one shot or something can really turn it around. I've got a lot of work to do for the rest of this season, there's still some big tournaments to play and I'd rather leave with the confidence shooting 62 than kind of mailing it in and maybe shooting 70 or 72 and not really getting anything out of it. I'm out here for a reason, so I'll try and get the most out of it if I can.
'I hate to say, but I feel more fatigue at this point in the season than I did 10 years ago. It's just a fact of the matter and it's smart if I take it pretty easy for a few days. Like definitely not come out to the course Monday, Tuesday, unless I've really got something to fix or need to do, but don't use the energy. Fortunately, I've been coming to these places a long time and know the course and it's really about conserving energy and just having a bit of recovery so that, hopefully, when you're in contention the next weekend, there's plenty in the tank still."
Many stars have opined that the less-punishing nature of TPC River Highlands offers welcome respite post Oakmont, but Scott, who is likely to contend at The Open next month at Royal Portrush, smiled: 'I think the rough certainly in areas is longer than I've ever seen it here. Down the right of one on Thursday, I kind of hit a pretty okay tee shot just in the rough and like was hacking. I'm like: I can't believe this!
'But yes, generally, the way my the way my years gone where I've played not up to scratch, when you play the signature event and the Majors and a couple other tough events through Florida and it's hard to break par, I feel like I haven't really broken par very much. I haven't been playing horrible, but I haven't been playing great. So it's nice to have a round like today, we get it going a little bit.'
Scott putted superbly and added: 'If I started talking to you about like how you manage these parts of the game, you'd think we're all crazy. But I didn't even feel like I had a problem putting yesterday. Yeah, I hit one off the green, but it was windy and quick. The I hit good putts and they didn't go in. Nothing felt bad other than they missed, they lipped out and they burned the edges and they added up to be a lot.
'It's super annoying, but I don't get discouraged by that because it doesn't feel bad. I hit a putt today that's the worst part I've hit in recent memory and it's one of my better rounds. That bothers me more. I didn't really change anything technically other than just something to allow a bit more freedom.'
