Poor, poor Adam Scott. The Australian has joined Jean Van de Velde and, dare we whisper it, Scott’s hero Greg Norman, as the kings of golfing calamity. As natural as it was to feel deep joy for Els, the veteran who many had give up on after 10 barren years, it was easier to feel intense sympathy for Scott.
With four holes to go he was four ahead and 1-50 with the bookies. The inscriber was in full scrape. Four bogeys later, Scott was in total and merciless ignominy. The pain was apparent when he walked off the green, but he quickly composed himself and displayed an upper-lip so tight he would have made an old officer proud. No tears, just cheers for Els. But this will hurt when it sinks in. It simply has to.
As a teenager he had sat in his Queensland home in floods of tears as he watched Norman, his inspiration, concede a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters. On Sunday Norman was due to play golf in Scotland in preparation for this week’s Senior Open at Turnberry. He cancelled his plans.
“I’m going to watch every shot Adam hits,” Norman said.
The irony was obvious. Norman would have understood Scott’s torment better than anyone and it would be no surprise if he rang his young friend. But he would also have sent a message to the Big Easy. Els had finished second here in 1996 and then third in 2001.
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