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Scott showing major maturity is close at hand

Young, wealthy, and athletically gifted, Adam Scott seemingly had a number of exciting ways to celebrate his 21st birthday.

A quiet dinner so as to retire early didn’t appear to fit the bill, yet that is what he chose that Monday night 11 years ago in this seaside town.

Then again, what he had waiting for him the next morning was worth it: a 6am practice round with Tiger Woods and a fountain of knowledge on how to play competitive golf.

The date was arranged by Butch Harmon, then the swing coach for both the dynamic Woods and young Scott, only the Aussie fumbled the assignment. He answered the 5.15am alarm okay, but was tardy to the course and had to sprint to catch Woods at the second tee.

Fast-forward to the British Open’s first visit here since 2001 and Woods will have to make haste if he’s to catch Scott.

Now that is a stunning comment. Woods has won 14 major championships while Scott is winless in 45 tries. Clearly then, we have tables turned. One could argue it’s about time.

After all, haven’t we waited forever for the 32-year-old Scott to cash in his chips and haul away a major title? Yes. But guess what? So has he.

“I haven’t achieved what I want until I win a major,” Scott said.

Certainly, he took a significant step on a shockingly tranquil day that left players with radiant smiles. Having played in the cruellest of weather conditions for several days of practice, competitors were treated to sunshine, warm temperatures and a benign wind. Yes, it is a recipe for red numbers and they came forth.

Lytham and St Annes was defenceless and the morning brilliance piled up — Scott’s six under 64, a pair of 65s, Woods and three others at 67, 13 sub-par rounds in all.

It was unlikely anyone was happier than Scott, who may have learned a few things from that practice round with Woods years ago, but he has struggled to apply them.

“It’s been a good career. I’ve won tournaments,” Scott said, “but I haven’t achieved my goal of winning majors.”

Scott is one of the handful of players expected to win the biggest championships. That he hasn’t done so is disappointing; that until the 2011 Masters he really hadn’t ever had a chance to win is stunning.

In fact, as morning gave way to a warm afternoon and Scott’s 64 listed first, he was in position to have his first-ever lead in a major. Give the man credit, though, he faced up to that last year and decided he needed a new approach and better prep work. It seemed to work, too, for Scott was a runner-up at the Masters last year and seventh at the PGA.

Buoyed by that, he couldn’t wait for the 2012 Masters, only he opened with a 75. Then he couldn’t wait for the US Open, only he opened with a 76. This past Tuesday, though it was raining persistently, Scott stood and talked to reporters and insisted he needed to shake that bad habit and get off to a good start.

Sure, he played the final 54 holes at Augusta in seven under to sneak a share of eighth; he played the last three rounds in level par to finish T-15 at the US Open, but he had buried his chances on Thursday. It was something his veteran caddie, Steve Williams, wasn’t going to let happen again.

“He wanted me to go to that first tee today like it was the 72nd hole,” Scott said. “Really switch yourself on from the first hole.”

As he had done years earlier with Woods here at Lytham, Scott heard the advice. But unlike on those many occasions when he failed to apply it, on this day he did.Home

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