Adam Scott’s rise to the top of the world golf rankings tomorrow will not come courtesy of a clutch putt or be heralded by a spray of champagne.
Last year’s Masters champion is to supplant Tiger Woods atop the rankings after sitting out this week, achieving a coveted accolade in what even Scott admitted was a somewhat anti-climactic fashion.
“It’s weird,” Scott said after his final-round 73 at the Players Championship last Sunday insured that he would not seize the top spot with a top-16 finish that week.
Photo: AFP
“You want to do it playing well and getting good results, but it’s just the way our system is,” Scott said.
The 33-year-old Australian is finally to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Greg Norman and he is to take his new ranking for a spin in Fort Worth, Texas, next week after adding the USPGA Tour’s Colonial to his schedule.
He is to become the first Aussie to claim the top spot since Norman ruled the list for 331 weeks in the 1980s and 1990s.
Scott, who is still seeking his first victory of this season, said he needs more rounds and decided to wedge in the Colonial before his scheduled start at the Memorial in hopes of getting his game in high gear before the US Open next month.
“I’m trying to play some good golf and get myself ready to play the next big event,” Scott said at the Players, adding that more major titles are more important to him that the No. 1 ranking.
“If I was never world No. 1 when I’m this close, I’d be disappointed,” Scott said. “But I’d also much rather win the US Open and not be No. 1 this year.”
Scott has benefitted from the injury absence of Tiger Woods, who said this month on his Web site that he still does not know when he will return from surgery to relieve a pinched nerve in his back.
“It’s a very slow process,” Woods said in his blog in the week of the Players Championship. “I’m still sore. Not from the procedure itself, but the incision.”
The US superstar, who has topped the rankings for 683 weeks in his career, has been sidelined for two months and still has not committed to the US Open at Pinehurst.
The Players Championship marked Scott’s fourth missed opportunity in two months to overtake Woods based on his performance in a tournament.
Scott had a four-shot lead going into the final round at Bay Hill in March, but shot 76 on Sunday and finished third.
His next opportunity came three weeks later at the Masters, where he was tied for third heading into the weekend, but fell out of contention after a 76 in the third round.
Scott is to become the 17th player to become world No. 1 since Germany’s Bernhard Langer was the first in 1986.
He is to be the fourth player to overtake a rival for the top spot in a week in which he is not playing, joining England’s Lee Westwood and Nick Faldo, and Welshman Ian Woosnam.
“The ranking system is just the way it is,” Scott said of the two-year revolving points system that makes his ascension possible. “It’s a very hard system to perfect with tours all over the world.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely