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Brave Scott looking to the future

The comparisons with Greg Norman were inevitable when Adam Scott’s British Open challenge dissolved so dramatically over the final four holes at Royal Lytham.

It’s 16 and a bit years ago since the 15-year-old Scott watched his golfing hero and fellow Australian’s capitulation at the Masters, shooting a 78 in the final round at Augusta National to blow a six-shot overnight lead and hand Nick Faldo the champion’s green jacket.

Scott had cried as Norman suffered what is still regarded as the greatest collapse in Masters history but as he reviewed his own implosion over the back nine on Sunday to let slip the Claret Jug and his shot at a first major victory, there was no hint of tears. Not for now, anyway.

“I don’t think so,” Scott said. “Maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet. But maybe there will be more disappointment when I get home and wind down.

“I haven’t even wound down. I feel like I’ve just walked off the course and it’s all a lot to digest, and I feel fine at the moment.

“But I’m a positive guy; I’m optimistic and I want to take all the good stuff that I did this week and use that for the next time I’m out on the course. Hopefully I can let it go really quick and get ready for my next tournament.

“I’ve never really been in this position, so I’ll have to wait and see how I feel tomorrow.”

If anything, Scott will look to the way Norman dealt with the dark hours of failure. There were, after all, quite a few for the Great White Shark.

“Greg was my hero when I was a kid, and I thought he was a great role model, how he handled himself in victory and defeat. He set a good example for us.

“It’s tough; I didn’t finish the tournament well today. But I’m sure there will be a next time, and I can do a better job of it.”

The man to benefit most of course, from Scott’s collapse was Ernie Els, and the newly-crowned Open champion backed his friend to eventually get over the winning line at the majors.

“I’m so happy that I’ve won but I’ve been on the other end more times than I’ve been on the winning end and it’s not a good feeling,” Els said. “I think Adam is a little bit different than I am. I did see him afterwards in the scorer’s hut and he seemed okay. I said to him, I’m sorry how things turned out. I told him I’ve been there many times and you’ve just got to bounce back quickly.

“I feel for him. But thankfully he’s young enough. He’s 32. He’s got the next 10 years that he can win more than I’ve won. I’ve won four now; I think he can win more than that.”

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