Singapore Open Player in Focus: Adam Scott

Adam Scott (pictured) is trying to get his career back on track after the disappointment of failing to win the British Open and this week’s Singapore Open provides him with a great opportunity to add to his tally of tournament wins around the world.

The Singapore Open became affiliated to the European Tour in 2009 but before then it was a well established event in Asia. It was founded in 1961 and was staged every year until 2001 before a four year break due to lack of sponsorship.

When the tournament repapered on the schedule in 2005 it was the richest event exclusive to the Asian Tour. Scott won the event twice in those early years that the tournament was played again and backed that up by winning in 2010. Each of those wins came on the Sentosa Golf Course, this week’s venue and host course since 2005.

Whatever Scott achieves in his career, and that may still include major championship victories, he will never get a better chance to win the British Open than in 2012. He was leading by four shots with as many holes to play but bogeyed each to hand the title to Ernie Els. When the South African holed a putt of about 20 feet on his final hole he wasn’t to know that clinched him his second Open and fourth major in total.

Scott played the best golf of the entire field for 68 holes at Lytham. He clearly has a game that is good enough to win majors and his efforts since that fateful afternoon in July have indicated tremendous strength of character and ability.

Our Player in Focus qualified for the Tour Championship, an event open to the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings after the final qualifying event. Despite coming up short that week Scott was extremely consistent during the play-offs and contended against strong fields.

The Australian’s most recent form is also cause for optimism. He finished just four shots behind Ian Poulter at the HSBC Champions and that event attracted a markedly stronger field than the Singapore Open. Scott scores well for hitting the greens in the correct number of shots and then putting well so his skill’s profile is a perfect fit for Sentosa.