Last updated: July 11, 2014



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Make Australia a mecca for world's top golfers, says Adam Scott

Adam Scott v Tiher Woods

Queensland Adam Scott (L) says Australian golf must push to attract the world's best players, such as Tiger Woods (R), to its tournaments. Source: The Courier-Mail

ADAM Scott says Australian golf must unite to have a tournament the world's top players simply can't ignore.

On the eve of the Talisker Australian Masters, the tournament most likely to win favour with the US PGA Tour, the Queenslander said it was important the nation kept its standing in world golf by having an event capable of luring its best players.

The world No.5 called for cohesion among Australian golf's powerbrokers to cash in on the positive feedback the world's leading players have given Melbourne's Sandbelt courses in the past four years.

"We have to accept we're in a tough spot. Asia is booming and you can see events popping up there more every year and (there are) less dates for our events, and we get pushed aside," Scott said.

"Unfortunately, where things are at the moment, it's easy for people to look past us.

"It's also very hard (that) our events are all run by different people - that's competitive and that's tough as well.

"The best way going forward is just to try and maximise our opportunities ... to have the best events we can possibly have."

He said the domestic circuit faced unique problems as global tours and Asia's financial muscle pushed it into an ever-shrinking window on the golf calendar.

But asked if he could foresee one multi-million dollar event being sufficient to spark the US Tour's interest to add the Masters to its Asian swing, Scott said: "It wouldn't be unreasonable.

"We're up against it a bit, but ... it wouldn't be wishful thinking to think how can we do this.

"If it's actually possible, I don't know, because a lot of things would have to fall into place.

"But maybe we need to set a date and get a field, because there are so many options for these guys to look at."

Scott said US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem would not be swayed by a simple sales pitch, saying he would only act in the tour's best interest.

But he said there was no doubt the Sandbelt courses had won favour among those who had played the Masters in the past four years and the American Presidents Cup team in 2011.

Defending Masters champ Ian Poulter, 2010 US Open champ Graeme McDowell and Scott have led the cheerleading for Kingston Heath's impeccable condition this week.

"But they're going to forget quickly if they're not reminded (of the courses' appeal)," Scott said.

"They're not just going to book a ticket and come, it takes some work and you've got to keep reminding them of it because at the end of the day we're all pretty spoilt with playing the US Tour and for them that's home, they don't have to travel anywhere.

"We have to entice them to come down here and keep reminding them of how good golf is down here and what a great place Australia is.

"It's good that it's being talked about - maybe it will stir some people up and get them thinking."


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