Norman’s belief in Scott set him on route to top

IT WAS the equivalent of a football manager wrapping his arm around his star striker to boost his confidence in the middle of a goal drought.

Adam Scott had not recorded a top-30 finish for around ten months yet he was still handed a wild-card by Greg Norman for the 2009 Presidents Cup in San Francisco.

Four years on, Scott picked out that boost as the pivotal moment in him getting his career back on track and, to the delight of no-one more so than Norman, becoming the first Australian to have a Green Jacket slipped over his shoulders in the famous Butler Cabin.

“That was a big moment for me,” admitted Scott. “My game was in a bit of a rut and I wasn’t enjoying it so much. But Greg, as the captain, had a lot of faith in me and belief that I could win a point for his team and he gave me a pick.

“What that did was automatically put me into a world-class situation. There’s no hiding in a Presidents Cup. You’re playing against the best players in the world and I used that as a real motivator.

“It was also a way to make myself believe that I’m a great player again. Sometimes it’s very hard to play yourself out of a rut. But I got put in that situation of pressure all over again, and I needed that. I took the ball from there and ran with it.”

Having been his mentor virtually since turning professional in 2000, it was no surprise that Scott admitted it would take more than just a phone call with Norman to do justice to Sunday’s historic event here. “A phone conversation isn’t going to do it for us,” he insisted. “We are really close and I’d love to share a beer with him over this one.

“He inspired a nation of golfers, anyone near to my age, older and younger. He was the best player in the world and he was an icon in Australia. Everything about the way he handled himself was incredible to have as a role model.

“Just that was enough, but he’s devoted so much time to myself and other young Australian players who came after him. He’s been incredibly generous. Most of us would feel that he could have slipped a Green Jacket and part of this is for him because he’s given me so much time and inspiration and belief.”

Scott is the tenth Australian to win a major. Only Peter Thomson (5), Norman (2) and David Graham (2) have managed to win more than one, but Norman is confident the latest member of the club can kick on from here and even challenge Thomson’s position as the country’s greatest-ever player.

“Adam is a great player and I’m confident this victory will catapult him to win more majors,” said Norman. “It will not surprise me if he wins more major championships than any other Australian golfer in history. Adam’s an incredible competitor. He’s not a guy that wants to sit back and relax and rest on his laurels. He has incredible fire within his system. And a victory like this is going to give him tremendous confidence as he moves forward in his career.”

With Jason Day finishing third and Marc Leishman tying for fifth with Tiger Woods, it was a strong display all round by the Australian contingent and it proved enjoyable viewing for a 58-year-old as he watched the drama unfold on TV.

“I was very proud of all of the Aussies today,” added Norman. “It gave me so much pride to look up at the leaderboard and see three Aussie flags on there, and I was on the edge of my seat all afternoon.”