Scott chasing No. 1 in return to Augusta

Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga.

Adam Scott is relishing every part of being Masters champion.

The drive up Magnolia Lane. A couple of practice rounds with his dad. Wearing the green jacket. And, certainly, the champions dinner Tuesday night.

But before anyone gets worked up about having to eat “bugs,” no worries — that’s just Aussie-speak for a type of lobster.

Scott went with surf-and-turf off the barbie for his Down Under-themed menu, so he doesn’t expect too many complaints.

“I think they are going to be pretty happy with what I serve up,” he said with a sly smile, “particularly the wine.”

A year later, Scott is back at the scene of his greatest triumph, a thrilling playoff victory over Angel Cabrera that gave the 33-year-old Australian his first major championship. The breakthrough, after so many close calls and missed chances, has propelled him to the greatest run of his career, including top-five finishes at both the U.S. Open and British Open.

Scott knows he has the game to add another major title or two to his resume.

He’s eager to take advantage of it.

“I’m at the highest level I’ve ever been at,” Scott said. “My window of opportunity, I really think, is right now, and I don’t know when it will close. So I just have to keep going as hard as I can right now.”

From the back of the room, his parents, Phil and Pam Scott, looked on proudly. After Adam was done with his interview session, they joined him on the podium for a family photo.

Phil Scott is pleased with the way his son has dealt with his increased fame.

“You can have respect for everything, from the game to the course to you guys,” the father told a small group of reporters. “You’ve got a choice to do it nicely or not. If you take the choice to do it nicely, I think you will have a better time.”

Phil Scott, who once coached his son, got a chance to join him on the course for practice rounds Friday and Sunday. It was the thrill of a lifetime for both of them.

The elder Scott said he probably shot in the low 80s, though neither of them took the round too seriously. Instead, they relived some of the moments from Adam’s victory a year ago, from the clutch birdie putt on the 72nd hole that led the golfer to shout “C’mon, Aussie!” to the 12-footer on the second playoff hole that gave him the green jacket.

“My dad’s been coming here for all these years I’ve been playing, so it was nice for him to stand in the middle of the fairway rather than out on the edge,” Scott said. “I think he also developed a pretty good appreciation for how good some of the guys are out here, chipping and putting around these greens.”

Phil agreed.

“This place can make a fool of you,” he said, “as it did to me.”