Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott set to square off in Sydney

RORY McIlroy may return to the Australian Open and renew his acquaintance with Adam Scott.

Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott may face each other at the Australian Open. Picture: Phil Hillyard

NORTHERN Irish boomerang?

When Rory McIlroy was circling Royal Liverpool to claim his third major championship and earn his old man a small fortune on the punt, Golf Australia boss Stephen Pitt was waving an invitation for the will-o’-the-wisp from County Down to return to the Australian Open and renew his acquaintance with Adam Scott.

Scott and McIlroy, the world No 1 and No 2 who engaged in a bumper 72-hole shootout at Royal Sydney last year, are expected to announce their summertime plans within weeks. Scott seems certain to contest the national championship at The Australian in November. McIlroy is set to join him because every professional golfer worth his Titleist contract gets a buzz from a tournament defence. Pitt made his pitch to the British Open champion during the 25-year-old’s wire-to-wire acquiring of the Auld Claret Jug.

Worthy of a marquee grouping with Scott and McIlroy in Australia would be teenager Ryan Ruffels. He took another giant career stride yesterday by winning the Junior World Golf Championship at Torrey Pines in California while McIlroy was conquering the Open.

Ruffels played practice rounds with McIlroy and Scott last domestic season, nailing half-a-dozen birdies alongside McIlroy at Royal Sydney.

“You’re just like me, only nine years younger,” McIlroy said before handing over his phone number and offering advice whenever it was needed. “It’s pretty cool,” Ruffels said. “It looks good when you’re scrolling down the Ms in your phone and you see Rory McIlroy.”

Scott was superb at Hoylake. A third consecutive top-five Open finish. His chances were dented by his tee times in the opening two rounds (late Thursday and early Friday) clashing with the worst of the weather. McIlroy was bathed in sunshine, calm winds and six-under-par 66s while Scott slogged his way to 68-73. When their stars and tee times finally aligned on the weekend, McIlroy was already nine shots clear. His wire-to-wire victory came as Scott finished five shots adrift.

“I’m a little annoyed that I’m leaving here playing well and not winning,” Scott said after closing with a 66 of his own. “When Rory’s in rhythm, he’s phenomenal. He doesn’t have weaknesses and he has more strengths than anyone else. I played exceptionally well from tee to green but obviously, I was on the tougher side of the draw this week. Being so far behind after 36 holes, it was maybe a little unrealistic to reel Rory in.”

Scott was desperate to get to Louisville’s Valhalla Golf Club for the USPGA Championship from August 7. And then to St Andrews next year for another stab at the Open.

“It’s down to one major left this year,” he said. “It’s the last shot at it.”

Scott was two shots behind McIlroy after round one at Hoylake. But his second-round of one-over 73 was the killer, a seven-shot swing to the man now breathing down his neck for the world No 1 ranking.

“I feel like I could have done a better job of limiting the damage on Friday,” Scott said. “I did that by shooting one over, but I could have shot a couple better. It was slow going when everyone else was going gangbusters. Momentum is such a big thing and I had a very stagnant 27 holes in the middle of the tournament. I’m disappointed but on my side of the draw, it was tough.”

Asked if he would have won the Open from McIlroy’s side of the draw, Scott replied: “Yep.”