Bunker Mentality

Simmering Scott has gone to pot

Tue Oct 27 01:00PM

Bunker Mentality has been slow to jump on the Adam Scott-demise bandwagon because the hugely talented Australian deserved every chance to turn his fortunes around.

But it simply has not happened, so bandwagon jump we will.

The 29-year-old has made just nine cuts in 19 appearances on the PGA Tour in 2009 and just one top-10 finish.

Scott has long been revered for his dashing play and prodigious talent, but Butch Harmon's charge is currently languishing down in 108th place on the PGA money list with a paltry $783,138 (£477,174) to his name.

Having turned pro in 2000, Adam Scott had lofty ambitions of emulating his hero and compatriot Greg Norman, whom he idolised, living and dying with his highs and numerous lows on golf's world stage.

Five years ago when, on the eve of the prestigious Players Championship, the Shark offered his protégé a chipping tip that helped propel Scott to what remains the biggest victory of his career.

Scott's slump has dated to January, the last time he finished inside the top 30 at any tournament, with even Butch Harmon, Scott's longtime instructor deciding (mutually at least with Scott) to take a break from working with him for the time being.

"Adam is very fragile at the moment, mentally and emotionally, confidence wise," Harmon explained.

Norman, the International team captain for the Presidents Cup, looked beyond Scott's lacklustre performances to make him a shock selection for his 12-man squad to take on the Americans. Where is a golfer without his friends?

"Greg (Norman) threw him a bone because they have been friends forever. But I'd have rather seen him take the rest of the year off and really get back in the dirt and work it out," remarked an unimpressed Harmon.

One point from five matches at the Presidents Cup suggests old Butch was probably right.

Scott has endured a perplexing slump this season in which he dropped from as high as number three in the world as recently as June 2008 to outside of the top 60, aptly reflecting the demise of his girlfriend, tennis star Ana Ivanovic's.

The Australian has not posted a top-10 on the PGA Tour since a runner-up finish in January at the Sony Open, and has missed 10 of 17 cuts in 2009. His best finish since in the US is a tie for 33rd at the WGC-Accenture Match Play, which hides the fact that he was a first-round loser.

At one point, Scott missed six straight cuts. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship - shooting a first-round 82 - and then again at the Wyndham Championship, following a first-round 66 with a 75.

After a tie for 58th at The Barclays failed to advance him to the second FedEx playoff event, Scott figured to take some time off and regroup.

So to Ivanovic, the Serb who has endured a torrid 2009. In fact the pair, both highly-talented in their respective sports, have fallen staggeringly short of the high expectations set for themselves.

Scott has often been accused of having a laissez-faire attitude in the midst of his struggles, but at least he has one in regards to his girlfriend too: "I think she's so talented that she'll be fine," he said with unconvincing assurance.

When he was asked if they were able to sympathise with each others' troubles he replied, "Yeah, for sure. It's not easy."

Those close to him have grown increasingly concerned when he only made news for the company he was keeping - actress Kate Hudson for a week in Hawaii, tennis star Ivanovic for the last few months - than the putts he was sinking.

On Ana's decision to end her season prematurely, citing a respiratory tract infection, Scott was typically blase: "It's been a rough year. If she thinks that's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do."

Scott has most recently promised that his slump in form is "just a process to make myself better," so perhaps Ivanovic going through an identical self-improvement exercise in discouragement? Time will tell, that and his Facebook relationship status.

Is golf losing one of its star attractions and top talents? Possibly. Does Scott care more than the majority of the golfing world think? Possibly.

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