The Masters: '˜I need to get my skates on to win more majors as it gets tougher every year' '“ Adam Scott

Former world No 1 Adam Scott believes time is running out if he wants to add further major titles to the Masters he won in 2013.
Australia's Adam Scott acknowledges the crowd after his putt during day three of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club, East Lothian. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 20, 2013. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. No commercial use. The Open Championship logo and prominent link to The Open website (www.TheOpen.com) to be included with published material. Call 44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.Australia's Adam Scott acknowledges the crowd after his putt during day three of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club, East Lothian. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 20, 2013. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. No commercial use. The Open Championship logo and prominent link to The Open website (www.TheOpen.com) to be included with published material. Call 44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.
Australia's Adam Scott acknowledges the crowd after his putt during day three of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club, East Lothian. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 20, 2013. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. No commercial use. The Open Championship logo and prominent link to The Open website (www.TheOpen.com) to be included with published material. Call 44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.

“My window might not be closing, but it’s not wide open either,” Scott joked ahead of the year’s first major championship, which gets under way at Augusta National tomorrow.

The 35-year-old Australian competed against 14-time major winner Tiger Woods in his prime, but feels the emergence of the likes of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and compatriot Jason Day makes it equally difficult to claim the game’s biggest prizes.

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“It’s hard for me to think that anything I achieve will be bigger than (winning in 2013), but that doesn’t mean I’m not striving to win other Masters or any other big championship,” Scott said.

Australia's Adam Scott hits out of a bunker on the driving range during practice for the Masters (Picture: Chris Carlson/AP).Australia's Adam Scott hits out of a bunker on the driving range during practice for the Masters (Picture: Chris Carlson/AP).
Australia's Adam Scott hits out of a bunker on the driving range during practice for the Masters (Picture: Chris Carlson/AP).

“I don’t want it to be the one major that I win. I feel I’ve got the game to win other majors and I’m looking to win my second major championship this week, and I’m driven towards doing that because I want to win a handful of majors in my career.

“I need to get my skates on because it’s getting tougher and tougher every year. There are only a few players who have been very dominant over 40 years old, and it’s probably going to be harder, too, as the young 20-somethings are better and better. That’s probably a trend that’s going to continue to happen.”

Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els all won majors in their 40s, but Scott added: “But they’re the greatest players of that era. They’re the ones who are doing it. So for me, I need to be at that kind of level to think I’m going to be able to continue to do that. I haven’t given it a lot of thought because I don’t really want to think about getting there too quick. But I think it’s very possible if I’m healthy that I can compete well into my 40s.”

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Scott was surprised to be reminded he will be making his 15th Masters appearance when he tees off alongside Americans Kevin Kisner and Brooks Koepka in tomorrow’s opening round.

Australia's Adam Scott hits out of a bunker on the driving range during practice for the Masters (Picture: Chris Carlson/AP).Australia's Adam Scott hits out of a bunker on the driving range during practice for the Masters (Picture: Chris Carlson/AP).
Australia's Adam Scott hits out of a bunker on the driving range during practice for the Masters (Picture: Chris Carlson/AP).

And he revealed that opening moment remains the most nerve-racking of the season. “Going to the first tee Thursday is the most nervous I get all year of any event anywhere, at any time,” Scott added.

“Even more nervous than coming to a play-off or coming off the last hole with a chance to win, is the first tee.

“I found it the hardest to calm down on this golf course in the first round over the first few holes than anywhere else. It obviously has a real significance to me.”

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Scott looked primed for a sustained challenge at Augusta after back-to-back victories in the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship, but lost in the group stages of the WGC-Dell Match Play a fortnight ago.

“I’ve played some good golf certainly over the Florida stretch, but that’s nearly a month ago now,” he added.

“I can’t rely on that to get to where I want to be this week. It’s a new week and a new challenge and the way I see it I’ve got three tough days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, to put myself in a position to win a Masters championship.

“I didn’t make it through to the weekend at the Match Play, but that was probably a bonus for me to just get a couple extra days rest, because it was a pretty full on schedule for me.”