Why are there so few PGA Tour winners in their 40s? Adam Scott offers his take

At 44 years old, Adam Scott occupies an increasingly unique place on the PGA Tour. He still has more than five years left until he’s eligible for the PGA Tour Champions, and there are seemingly fewer and fewer players his age who continue to hold their place alongside the Tour’s young guns.

But after firing rounds of 68-63 at Castle Pines Golf Club at this week’s BMW Championship, Scott is in position to not only qualify for his 13th Tour Championship, but also to contend for the $25 million first-place prize at East Lake next week. Scott leads by three shots at the tournament’s halfway point, and a win would launch him from No. 41 to No. 4 in the FedEx Cup points standings.

If Scott manages to claim the BMW Championship title this Sunday, he’ll be the oldest player to notch a PGA Tour victory this year. It will be his 15th career PGA Tour win, and his first since the 2020 Genesis Invitational.

In his post-round press conference on Friday, Scott was asked why the number of PGA Tour winners in their 40s is so few, and Scott gave a thoughtful response.

“I think it’s hard to get a lot better in your 40s, and there are a lot of 20-year olds getting better,” he said. “I just think there are probably a lot of 40-plus guys dropping off the Tour. There are a lot of mid-20s coming on the Tour taking their place. Whether it’s just life or whether it’s physical at this age or mental, it’s hard to keep pace with what the younger guys are doing, from hitting the ball at a speed that’s competitive to practicing enough to having the motivation and the drive to do it. I think it’s harder for the older guys.”

Do you feel like you’re in your 40s? A reporter asked. Do you feel like the old guy out there?

“Yep,” Scott replied. “Most guys remind me every day.”

Irons

Jokes aside, Scott may be winless since 2020, but his game has been in impressive shape of late. He’s made 15 cuts in 17 events this year, and his last three tournaments have been particularly consistent: a runner-up at the Genesis Scottish Open, T10 at the Open Championship, and T18 at last week’s FedEx St Jude Championship, which solidified his place in the FedEx Cup’s top 50.

“It’s a big deal for anybody to make it through to the top 50 on Tour, and I think that was a relief last week,” Scott said. “I have to say playing the last — the back nine last week was quite stressful. I knew I was a shot here or there from being in or out, and getting through that was good. I felt like I’ve been kind of a bubble boy all year for things, and now it doesn’t really matter. It’s more about getting out there and playing.”

Fortunately for Scott, regardless of how the next two rounds go, his Signature Event status for next year is already locked in.

“My game is in a good place,” he said, “and that freedom is helpful.”