When Adam Scott won the Masters in 2013, it was the biggest moment of his career. Not only did he do it in dramatic fashion — with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Argentina’s Angel Cabrera — his win also marked the first time an Australian had ever won a green jacket.
Prior to his victory, Scott had had his share of major disappointments, coming up short a handful of times. On this week’s episode of Off Course with Claude Harmon, Scott explained what it is about winning the Masters that makes it different from other major championships.
“I think it’s a massive gut check, because you know the back nine,” Scott said. “It’s the same back nine every time.”
Scott said that even though players know what’s coming at other major venues, the old cliche that the Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday is absolutely true.
“It’s massive,” he said. “It is a huge gut check to get it around there.
How losing the Open Championship helped Adam Scott win the Masters
“Ten, 11 and 12 are incredibly demanding. And there are opportunities, but once again, you’re just one bad shot away from a disaster at Augusta, almost every hole. You can get in such a horrible position with the wrong shot that it’s hard to recover.”
Scott said that the composure required to win at Augusta is what really sets it apart from other majors.
“I can’t think of too many disasters happening, and then miracle recoveries and they win,” he said. “It is rattling around there when it goes the wrong way. And I think that’s the beauty of what that tournament has evolved into over 80-something years. It’s an incredible back nine holes where 30 is possible and 40 is possible if it goes the wrong way.”
For more from Scott, including his favorite holes at Augusta and how his devastating loss at the Open Championship fueled his Masters win, check out the full interview below.