Written by Bob Harig at ESPN.com
The look suggested relief more than joy, the ceremony afterward more about a burden lifted than the trophy. That is the plight Adam Scott faces in a sport where defeat is suffered far more than victory is celebrated.
Scott won the Honda Classic on Sunday, outlasting Sergio Garcia as much as he beat him. The Aussie did what he needed to do, making just enough birdies to overcome the unavoidable mistakes at PGA National, a round of even-par 70 enough to secure his 12th PGA Tour title.
And at age 35, Scott proclaimed himself relevant again, a curious concept for a guy who was ranked No. 1 less than two years ago.
“Today it felt like a battle; it wasn’t elation,” said Scott, who won for the first time in 21 months. “At the end there was definitely a sense of relief and just satisfaction. Quite happy that it was over and I managed to hang on. It could have gone any way.”
It must seem like a lifetime ago that Scott won the 2014 Colonial, his long-stated goal of getting to No. 1 in the world confirmed. A week prior, while sitting at home, he ascended to that lofty perch having been in position for weeks. He finally got there with that playoff victory over Jason Dufner … then didn’t win again until Sunday. Anywhere.
Along the way he had to constantly answer questions about the impending anchored putter ban, no matter that he had won 18 worldwide titles prior to switching to a broomstick putter. He had to find a new caddie when the guy who helped him win the 2013 Masters, Steve Williams, decided to retire and then agreed to work just part-time.
And then life intervened. Scott’s wife, Marie, had a baby just more than a year ago, and the golfer was in the midst of a long break from golf. He returned in March, rushing to find his game, and never quite hit his stride in 2015. On the PGA Tour, he had just three top-10 finishes. He let an excellent chance at The Open get away, and then world ranking began to slip.
To continue reading this article, click here.
