Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Spring 2012 | Página 26

g lo Matt Cooper’s B Follow Matt on Twitter: [email protected] Adam Scott: Dignity Intact Matt Cooper was at the 2012 Open Championship and he offers us a behind the scenes glimpse of the conclusion and aftermath of an event which saw Queensland’s Adam Scott go through hell but remain with his dignity intact. The 16th green: Scott misses a short par putt to make a second consecutive bogey and the atmosphere of the day changes immediately. In complete control with a four-shot lead just minutes ago, he is now just two strokes ahead. He looks wary on the walk to the next tee. The 17th fairway: having found the fairway, he strides with forced composure towards his ball. But, halfway there, his head flicks towards an enormous roar that rises from the right. Ernie Els has just birdied the last and is now only one shot behind Scott. He has little time to settle himself before hitting his approach. It fails to find the green… The 17th green: as he stands over his par putt, the chatter and bustle of the galleries ceases. There is no noise except the distant echo of a light aircraft in the sky, the tinny rattle of the on-course radio commentary and the non-existent sound of hundreds of people holding their breath. The silence is broken by hundreds of gasps when the putt slips by. The 18th green: a fourth consecutive par 26 Q Golf Online Spring 2012 putt fails to drop, Scott’s knees buckle, the packed grandstands echo to the sound of astonished chatter as Ernie Els is left alone at the top of the leader board. The media centre: he has lost the Open Championship, but Scott doesn’t forget his manners. Despite what must be huge emotional strain, he has explained himself to both television interviewers and a large room of inquisitive press. He has been open, heartfelt and honest. Then a man at the front requests one final question. “Can I ask about your local connections?” he says. “Were your parents originally from Freckleton? And did your grandmother have a house overlooking the course?” To his eternal credit Scott laughs with everyone else at the surreal nature of the enquiry and its timing. Even more creditably he offers a patient response. “My parents are from Australia,” he says. “And my grandmother was from Wales, actually. It’s my dad’s cousins that are from Freckleton. And I believe my Aunt lived behind the ninth green once. That,” he concludes to laughter all round, including, bless him, his own, “is the best I’ve got for you.” The champion: “I really feel for my buddy Scotty,” says Els. “Because I’ve been there. I’ve blown majors and I just hope he doesn’t take it as bad as I did.” We always knew that Els had struggled when he lost majors even though he never admitted www.golfqueensland.org.au it. The weight which now rests on Scott’s shoulders has been lifted from Els’ and his features have relaxed. No-one present doesn’t wish for something similar to happen to Scott in the future. He’s lost the claret jug but gained many, many supporters.