Adam Scott has pulled the pin on a return home for the Australian PGA and Open choosing “rest” in a hammer blow to the tournaments and the summer of golf.
Scott, who returned to the world top 20 in 2024, has opted to “spend some quality time with my family and get some rest” after a massive year which included making the PGA Tour Playoffs, a stunning 11th consecutive Presidents Cup team and continuing his streak of playing in 93 consecutive majors.
The 44-year-old former world No.1 has regularly come back for the two Australian “majors” but won’t do this year for the PGA (Royal Queensland, November 21-24) and Open (Kingston Heath and Victoria, November 28-December 1).
“Throughout my career I have always done my best to come back to Australia to compete in at least some of our great local events,” Scott said via a statement given to Australian Golf Digest.
“This year will be an exception, as I need to spend some quality time with my family and get some rest.
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“I’m delighted to see that there are quality fields for our premier events. I wish all participants the best of luck, and I am sure the tournaments will be very successful.
“Even though I won’t be there this year I thank all the sponsors for supporting Australian golf”.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said: “While we would love to see him again in 2024, we fully appreciate and respect why he won’t be returning to Australia this summer after successful campaigns on all tours and the Presidents Cup.’
Golf Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said: “We look forward to welcoming Adam back to Australia in the future and watching him continue to take on the world’s best, as an outstanding international ambassador for Australian golf in 2025.”
Scott’s absence comes with two-time major champ Minjee Lee also yet to commit to the dual-gender Australian Open, and leaves Cameron Smith as the headline act for both the PGA and Open.
“I spoke to Adam a lot throughout the year, and I think his great play towards the end of the year probably led to a few more events than he wanted to play, and to have some time off is always a good thing,” Smith said about Scott’s decision.
“It’s always nice to have him back down here, but at the same time, he’s earned his rest, and I’m sure he’ll be back down here in the future to support again.”
LIV Golf star Smith is playing in the first of four Australian events at the Queensland PGA this week and now looms as a likely favourite to win his first Australian Open which will be played at Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Clubs on Melbourne’s famed sandbelt.
Jason Day, who is the second-highest ranked Australian behind Scott, is returning for the first time since 2017 to play the PGA at Royal Queensland, but not the Open, choosing instead to play in Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
“It’s been about 123 years since he’s been back,” Smith joked.
“It’ll be good fun. He’s a good lad, a great golfer and playing really good golf at the moment, so it’s awesome to play against those guys every time you can.”
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