Australian Masters: Majors beat medals for Adam Scott

Adam Scott wants to cement his status as one of the greatest players of his era by winning all the majors.

Adam Scott plays an iron form the fairway during the Pro-Am at Huntingdale, venue of the Australian Masters.

Adam Scott wants to cement his status as one of the greatest players of his era by completing the career grand slam before he turns 40 — a pursuit that may come at the expense of an appearance at the Olympics.

Scott, who will begin the Australian Masters at Huntingdale today as a short-priced favourite to win his second gold jacket, would prefer to put a priority on majors rather than medals.

That means the Rio Olympics may become a casualty of his quest. “The window is closing a little,’’ Scott said.

“At 35, I am in the prime of my career. But, realistically, beyond 40, it is a bit of a lottery. Things are not as certain.

“You can certainly win majors into your 40s, like Ernie (Els) did, (Phil) Mickelson did, Vijay (Singh) did. They’re some of the greats of this era. I have to get myself to that point over the next five years to where I am a great of my era.

“I would love to think I could win five majors. I feel like I have the game to win at all the major venues.

“I think a really incredible career would be to win one of each. It’s something that not many guys have done. I think winning one of each would be something really special in the game.’’

Only six players have finished their careers with the grand slam and every one of them has a venerable place in the game. Scott has only one major to his credit — the 2013 US Masters. He has work to do.

As he spoke yesterday, it quickly became clear that he viewed next year’s Olympics as little more than a glorified exhibition, the sort of distraction he could do without as he channels his energies towards success in the majors.

His dim view of the Olympics hasn’t been helped by the format, which has turned the event into an individual competition rather than the sort of tournament that engenders the team camaraderie on which the Olympics was founded. The odds of Scott and Jason Day forming a green-and-gold dream team appear to be drifting.

“I haven’t spent my whole life dreaming of winning a gold medal,” said Scott, speaking in his capacity as an ambassador for clothing sponsor UniQLO.

“I have spent my whole life dreaming of winning the green jacket or the claret jug or the Wanamaker trophy or the US Open trophy. Just because it (golf) is put in (to the Games), for me I don’t understand the instant priority.

“I understand representing your country and being proud to do so — and I am. I feel like I do that every week I play.

“It’s an interesting sport to put in the Olympics because it is very different than most traditional Olympic sports.

“For example, everyone playing in the golf event won’t be at the opening ceremony because they can’t get there — they will be at the PGA Championship.

“The golf starts nine days after. It’s a very interesting one. I think it needs to be treated accordingly and for what it is right now.”

Asked whether he was concerned about a backlash from Australian sports fans, many of whom view the Olympics as the pinnacle of sport, Scott said: “I am an Olympic fan too. I like to watch the guy run the 100 metres, and jump the highest, and lift the biggest weight, run the marathon. I am a fan of all that.

“I am just not sure where it’s (golf’s) place is. Like any new thing, instant priority is just not granted, because my priority is to win major championships.

“That’s what everyone’s golfing career is based around at the moment.”

Scott arrives in Melbourne at the end of what, by his own admission, has been an inconsistent year. There have been recent signs of improvement, most notably at the CIMB Classic three weeks ago when he finished in second place and acquitted himself well on the greens after reverting to the short putter ahead of the no-anchoring ban at the end of the year.

His confidence would no doubt be boosted by the realisation he has won the gold jacket on two occasions and faces a lack of star quality in Melbourne, where his greatest competition is likely to come from compatriots Steve Bowditch and John Senden.