Adam Scott excited for British Open after losing Scottish Open by a shot

The pain of defeat won’t linger long for Adam Scott who will take the buzz of being in contention to this week’s British Open.

Adam Scott fell a shot short at the Scottish Open. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

Only a sizzling final-hole putt from a fired-up local denied Adam Scott his first PGA Tour win since 2020, but the Australian star heads to Royal Troon for this week’s British Open “excited” that he can “lean into the good stuff” that propelled him into contention.

As rising Aussie star Steph Kyriacou stumbled late in France to fall short of a major breakthrough, Scott, at the other end of his career, finished just a shot behind Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open.

MacIntyre’s win, coming from two shots back with three holes to play, was aided by a free drop on the 16th hole after his drive into the deep rough was close enough to a sprinkler head before his final hole putt under enormous pressure helped him to an emotional win.

The moment Bob won his National Open 🤩🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿#GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeriespic.twitter.com/H68Irb8BC7

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 14, 2024

It was Scott’s best finish since February, and just his third top-10 finish for the year, a year that included putting himself through qualifying for the US Open, a new experience for a former world No.1 whose triumph at the Cathedral Invitational last December, in rural Victoria, was his first since taking out the Genesis Invitational in 2020.

But his two decades of playing links golf, having finished top 10 in four straight British Opens from 2012-2105, including his infamous struggle in 2012, now met with his runner-up performance at the Renaissance Club, is enough for Scott to feel “really good” about his chances this week.

“Yeah, I feel good, I really do,” he said after coming up a single shot short having led by as much as two shots during his back nine.

“It’s funny, it doesn’t get any easier but I’m working at everything all the time and trying not to get frustrated and use that experience. It feels good to play in contention and hopefully I get another crack at it at The Open now.”

Solo leader 🔥

Adam Scott birdies the 14th and leads by 2 @ScottishOpen. pic.twitter.com/qp07PDqeer

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 14, 2024

Scott said the spine-tingling sensation of being in contention and having putts “that mattered” was something he hadn’t experienced in a while and liked the timing of it happening now.

“So I’m excited to take some comfort inside of this and heading into a major next week on form because it’s been a while since I can say I’ve done that,” he said.

“It was great to kind of put to the test a couple of the changes that I’ve made in the last couple weeks out there today. It wasn’t all perfect, but it was nice to see that some of it was working nicely. I know if I find myself with the heat on next week, hopefully I can lean into this good stuff that’s happening.

“There was a lot of good stuff for me this week. You know, it’s hard to complain about anything. I mean, really, it’s the first time I’ve been in contention this year.

“I like where my game is headed into the last week or so going into next week, feel like I’m playing at a high level.”

Kyriacou, who shared the lead standing on the 17th tee of the Evian Championship in France, said she would take the positives from a massive week after a 17th-hole bogey, and a sluggish drive on the final hole, opened the door for Japanese star Ayaka Furue to take victory with an eagle on the final hole.

Having led by a shot going into the final round, Kyriacou, 24, said it “sucks” not to have gone on with it, but she would be better for the experience as she continued to make her way as a professional.

“It was a good week. Lots of positives to take away. I played great all week,” she said.

Stephanie Kyriacou was so close to her first major. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

“Sucks not to hold the trophy. If you told me I would come second at the start of the week I would’ve been happy.

“Yeah, lots of confidence. Obviously, a lot of stuff worked well for me this week, so just trying to keep the same mindset going forward and hopefully I can win.”

Originally published as Adam Scott excited for British Open after losing Scottish Open by a shot