Scott had a four shot lead with four holes to play in the British Open. He bogeyed the final four holes. Ernie Els birdied the 18th earlier, and that was enough for the victory.Scott started out on Sunday with a four-shot lead over the field and maintained that advantage well into the final round.
“I started paying attention around the turn, holes seven, eight, nine and 10, and I was obviously in a pretty good position but there was a long way to go,” he said.
“I think I played kind of accordingly to that. I hit a lot of good shots, hit a lot of greens. I left a lot of putts short right in the middle but felt I didn’t need to rush anything at the hole.
“I was just trying not to take any risks and keep hitting good shots, make pars, but that didn’t quite work at the end.”
Scott missed par-saving efforts from three feet at the 16th and eight feet at the last and said the hole that really cost him was the 17th.
“It all comes down to the shot into 17 for me that I’m most disappointed with,” he explained.
“At that point I’m still well in control of the tournament and if I hit a nice shot somewhere to the right of the hole I can go to the last with the lead still.”
The mental part of the game ...
“I started paying attention around the turn, holes seven, eight, nine and 10, and I was obviously in a pretty good position but there was a long way to go.”
“I think I played kind of accordingly to that. I hit a lot of good shots, hit a lot of greens. I left a lot of putts short right in the middle but felt I didn’t need to rush anything at the hole."
Left putts short. Being too careful. Trying to protect the lead, rather than playing to win.
“I was just trying not to take any risks and keep hitting good shots, make pars, but that didn’t quite work at the end.”
Trying not to take any risks. So often that just does not work, in any sport. It seems those chasing have all the advantage, nothing to lose, go for it. The leader tries to protect, gets too conservative, leaks creep into the game, and you get caught.
Sad for Adam Scott, but he just may need a more assertive attitude in competition, if he wants to win a Major championship.
