Adam Scott relives Rory McIlroy 2013 Royal Sydney showdown, video

When Rory McIlroy tees off at Royal Melbourne on Thursday, he’ll obtain a far hotter reception than he did at Royal Sydney in 2013.

Twelve years in the past, the Northern Irishman performed occasion pooper to the Masters champion’s much-anticipated Australian Open homecoming in probably the greatest {golfing} duels on Australian soil in current reminiscence.

Not solely was Adam Scott the primary Australian to play their nationwide open as a inexperienced jacket winner, however he was additionally chasing an unbelievable triple crown.

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Scott, who triumphed at Augusta Nationwide earlier that 12 months, made positive his year-end journey residence was a real victory lap by profitable the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast and the claiming a second successive gold jacket on the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne the next week.

Anticipation was constructing heading to Sydney that Scott may change into simply the second ever golfer to assert the Australian triple crown after Robert Allenby in 2005.

McIlroy arrived down below with different concepts, nevertheless, and it nonetheless stings Scott twelve years later.

“You consider tournaments that slipped by the fingers,” he instructed foxsports.com.au at Royal Melbourne forward of the Australian Open.

“I really feel fortunate. I’ve received quite a lot of tournaments, however then often I’m reminded of a number of that slipped by the fingers and that’s one in every of them.

“It simply occurred out of nowhere. I felt like I had it.”

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Having received the PGA Championship, the European Tour Championship and two PGA Tour titles within the 12 months prior, McIlroy was having a concerningly down 12 months in 2013.

He touched down in Sydney winless for the 12 months however buoyed by returning to a rustic that performed a key position in his adolescence within the sport.

McIlroy had performed the Australian Open twice earlier than as an adolescent – at Moonah Hyperlinks in 2005 and at Royal Sydney in 2006 – together with his first look coming after profitable a seven-way playoff for the fourth alternate spot as a 16-year-old.

After taking part in with relative anonymity in his first ventures in Australia, the crowds have been coming to look at not solely their Masters hero in Scott, however the brand new international celebrity who started the 12 months because the world No.1.

It was a heavyweight showdown befitting of Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, and it delivered for Australian golf followers.

Scott and McIlroy performed their means into the ultimate group on Sunday, in order that the 2 massive names of the sphere may correctly duke it out.

The Australian started the day with a four-shot buffer and had damaged the course file with a stunning 62 within the opening spherical.

The celebs have been aligning as soon as once more for a fairytale end for what had been probably the most outstanding years in Australian golf historical past.

The one downside was that McIlroy didn’t learn the script.

Then, already a two-time main champion, McIlroy wasted little time in wiping away Scott’s benefit – they have been degree after eight holes with the Northern Irishman’s eagle on the seventh flipping the momentum his means.

That made it a ten-hole match play contest between two of the world’s greatest on the time – Scott was world No.2 and McIlroy No.6 – and there was no scarcity of drama.

Scott birdied the ninth to achieve the flip with a one-shot lead.

Each had a great likelihood at eagle on the thirteenth, however Scott’s putt shaved the sting of the outlet – it could change into a theme within the closing phases.

He three-putted from the entrance of the inexperienced on the sixteenth after McIlroy opened the door for Scott to increase his lead by dumping his strategy shot right into a bunker.

On the penultimate gap, Scott struck a tee shot however his birdie putt on the par 3 lipped out, whereas his rival drained an important 10-foot par putt to make sure the Australian’s lead remained at solely a shot.

Heartbreak then struck Scott on the final.

His strategy into the 18th inexperienced bounced onerous, previous the flag and off the again of the inexperienced, down a steep slope.

“Leaving that 18th tee, I felt prefer it was all in my management,” Scott recalled.

“I feel it was an 8-iron. I simply pushed it a pair yards and it caught the sting of the inexperienced and rolled off into not the very best spot.”

Scott’s chip was overcooked, and he was unable to salvage a par, leaving McIlroy one other 10-foot putt, however this was one for birdie and the win.

It by no means appeared prefer it was lacking, and Scott’s shot on the elusive triple crown was executed.

“It’s an incredible sport the way it can simply flip like that and Rory holes the putt,” Scott stated.

“However that’s what nice champions do once they get given an open door. They type of stroll proper by it.”

With the Australian Masters changing into defunct two years later, it could be the final time somebody would have a shot at reaching the uncommon feat of the triple crown.

For McIlroy, it was an enormous sigh of aid after a difficult 12 months that included fighting a change of kit after signing a monster take care of Nike and a bitter authorized battle together with his former administration firm.

“I wished to get a win by the top of the season and eventually I’ve been in a position to get one,” McIlroy stated on the time.

“However extra satisfying than that’s having the ability to take probably the greatest gamers on this planet down the stretch and are available out on prime.

“Adam is an outstanding golfer and an ideal competitor, and doubtless even a greater man. I really feel a bit sorry I used to be the one to wreck the triple crown for him. Adam needs to be very happy with himself. He’s a credit score to the sport and a credit score to this nation.

“It’s a very prestigious match. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Participant, it looks like a lot of the greats of the sport have received this match, and I’m honoured to place my title on that trophy.”

The win served as a launching pad for a 12 months the place McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool and received a second PGA Championship.

At 45 years outdated, Scott, who received the Australian Open at New South Wales Golf Membership in 2009, sees no motive why victory this week couldn’t be a springboard for a Father Time defying season in 2026 – when he’s set to play his a centesimal consecutive main and push for an astonishing twelfth Presidents Cup look.

“It spurred him on for an ideal 2014, so, you realize, it’d be enjoyable if I may flip the tables and make amends for that one this week,” Scott stated.