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Adam Scott Eyeing World No. 1 Spot

Published

10 years ago

March 6, 2014

There is a lot on the line for 2013 Masters Champ Adam Scott this week at Trump National Doral, as he sets his sights on taking over Tiger Woods for the World No. 1 spot.

Last year the 33-year old Australian became the first player from “Down Under” to earn the Green Jacket. Scott continued his hot streak by winning at the 2013 Barclays and eventually finishing the season with six top-10 finishes in 16 tournaments played.

If Scott wins the WGC Cadillac this week and Tiger Woods finishes 6^th or worse (something quite feasible given Tiger’s recent back issues), Scott will jump up to No.1 to take over the coveted spot on the best list in golf. Adam knows better than anyone that he ultimately controls his own destiny, but with the way both of them have been playing, the scenario putting him in the No. 1 spot certainly is possible. The two will even be during the first two rounds this week, thrusting the match up even further into the spotlight.

When asked this week Scott indicated that he was well aware of the scenario and believes that it will motivate him to play well. “Absolutely it will (be motivation),” said Scott, who is only 1.5 points behind Woods in the rankings. “It’s impossible not to think about it.”

Since 2012, Scott has climbed from 17^th to 2^nd in the official World Rankings and you can tell that he’s ready to take the No. 1 spot as soon as he can. This is the last year his caddie, Steve Williams, will be on the bag, and wouldn’t be something if Stevie (Tiger’s ex-caddie) carried for two World No. 1 players in his career?

The last person to overthrow Tiger was Rory McIlroy during his amazing 2012 run and 2^nd place FedExCup finish. Rory knows a little something about motivation in going for No. 1.

“It’s great motivation,” McIlroy said of reaching No. 1. “I knew going into Honda that I had to win to get to No. 1 and that’s all that was on my mind. It gives you a single mindedness. Instead of falling into it, you know what you need to do.”

So with Tiger’s thin schedule and Adam playing more consistently, we could possibly see a new World No. 1 golfer in 2014.

What do you think? Weigh in with your comments below.