Adam Scott was among the first players to champion the cause of the Cathedral Invitational from its inception and walked away from his second trip to the stunning country Victorian layout with the winner’s trophy, ending a 1389-day victory drought.
Innovation remains a key plank of golf’s evolution and Scott, who signed on enthusiastically for Tiger Woods much-hyped virtual golf league, which will begin in 2025 after some serious recent technical difficulties, jumped on board the idea to create an elite, same-venue event in Australia.
This year LIV star and major champion Cameron Smith joined Scott for the second incarnation of the event at the Cathedral Lodge golf club where the scene was set for a final day shootout between the duo who were joined by 2006 US Open champ Geoff Ogilvy in a marquee final group after they topped the day one leaderboard.
But Scott went ahead and just put his foot down and filled his scorecard littered with another five birdies, after his 10 on the opening day, and the 42-year-old powered to a three-shot, year-ending victory going some way to end the frustration of contending but not winning since his last victory, at the Genesis Invitational in February, 2020.
“I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of weeks playing down here, it’s been great atmospheres. I can’t say enough about how many people have come out and supported all these events down here,” Scott said after his win.
“These few weeks are inspiring for me going into next year to do big things and come back with lots of trophies.
“I think, I’d sum it up by saying I’m trending pretty good.”
Having also stormed home last Sunday at the Australian Open, before ultimately coming up short, Scott has nailed 23 birdies across his past three competitive rounds in a nod to his ongoing ability to compete with the next generation of stars.
Ensuring his enthusiasm for the event, at the end of a long year, remains strong, the Adam Scott Foundation was also a beneficiary of the tournament dinner on Monday night.
Like most of his return home has been, Wednesday at Cathedral proved frustrating for Smith who has as nearly as many bogeys (three) as birdies (four), in a one-under round to close out his competitive 2023 schedule, with the 2024 LIV season set to open in Mayakoba, Mexico, in the first week of February.
Rather than Smith challenge Scott, there was a nod to a bright future for Australian golf with new pro Jeffrey Guan.
In just his fourth event as a professional, Guan, 19, who stayed with Smith in Florida this year as part of the Cameron Smith Scholarship and also won the Adam Scott Invitational in California in 2022 as part of a stellar junior and amatuer career, finished im equal second with Todd Sinnott.
Gabriela Ruffels, who will join the LPGA Tour in the US in 2024, was the best performed female starter, finishing in a tie for fifth.
CATHEDRAL INVITATIONAL FINAL LEADERBOARD
11-under – Adam Scott
9-under – Todd Sinnott, Jeffrey Guan
8-under – Cameron Smith, Blake Collyer
7-under – Gabriela Ruffels, Jake McLeod
Discussion about this post