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Adam Scott returns to site of PGA Tour debut in 2000 looking to take out the BMW Championship

Returning to the site of his US PGA Tour debut after 25 seasons and with $100m in the bank, Adam Scott has one goal.

Adam Scott is still alive in the PGA Tour playoffs. Picture: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP
Adam Scott is still alive in the PGA Tour playoffs. Picture: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

Adam Scott is flying the flag for the “40 plusses” in the penultimate event of the PGA Tour with so much still to play for nearly a quarter of a century since he made his debut at the site of this week’s $30m BMW Championship.

The now 44-year-old was in his first year as a professional in 2000 when he missed the cut in The International at Castle Pines Golf Club near Denver, now the site of the second event in the PGA Tour playoffs, where Scott is in the elite 50-player field looking to make it to the 30-man, season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

He’s clawed his way back from being outside the top 60 in the world rankings midway through 2024, playing in all four majors, taking his streak to 96, and courtesy of just making the field this week has earnt a start in all eight “signature” PGA Tour event in 2025, where more than $230m in prizemoney is up for grabs.

Adam Scott is still going strong at 44. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Adam Scott is still going strong at 44. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

With close to $100m in career earnings on the PGA Tour across 25 seasons, which is top 10 in all-time money earners, chasing extra cash is less of a priority now for Scott than adding titles to a cabinet that has only been opened once since 2020 when he took out the Cathedral Invitational in rural Victoria at the end of 2023.

But that didn’t fully satisfy a winning thirst that remains his drive.

Scott is adamant that even after a 2024 season to date he said he’d give himself a “pass” for, he’s playing well enough at a “good time of the year” to be successful in a game that is “moving fast”.

“I feel like my game’s really taking shape the last couple of months. I’ve been a winner on the PGA Tour and I believe I can still be a winner on the PGA Tour and that’s my focus for this week,” Scott, now 31 in the world, said.

“I expect more out of myself, but I’m at an interesting point in my career.

“I’m balancing and juggling a lot of things just at the golf course, let alone the rest of my life. The game’s moving fast and that’s a different thing for someone from my generation, I believe. And trying to get everything in line and stay competitive has been the biggest challenge.

Adam Scott was a rookie pro in 2000.
Adam Scott was a rookie pro in 2000.

“I haven’t had any bad results really. My game’s been fairly solid, but I just haven’t quite found that momentum. But the last few weeks is looking better, so it’s a good time a year to be playing well.”

Jason Day, Cam Davis and Scott are the last three Australians standing this week, with Davis and Scott needing to finish in the top 10 to make it to the Tour Championship.

Scott’s confidence levels have not diminished despite the younger profile of the game’s best players, and he’s adamant he’s got “some wins in me out here”.

“I still believe I have the game in me to be in that elite group of players on the PGA Tour and I still think I’ve got some wins in me out here,” he said.

“There’s still lots for me to accomplish and it’d be a feather in the cap for all the 40 pluses to make it to East Lake these days because it’s certainly getting harder and harder for us.”

Originally published as Adam Scott returns to site of PGA Tour debut in 2000 looking to take out the BMW Championship

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/golf/adam-scott-returns-to-site-of-pga-tour-debut-in-2000-looking-to-take-out-the-bmw-championship/news-story/720e4810ac15b7c0f24b197117c77314