There is no shortage of hyperbole after Adam Scott’s breakthrough victory at the Masters, with Peter Thomson, the 83-year-old Australian legend, serving as the latest example.
“I should think he will be seen as the best player in the world eventually,” the five-time major winner told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday. “He will surpass Woods and McIlroy. But it might even happen sooner than that.”
With this victory, Scott moved from seventh to third in the latest world rankings. He has ascended to this lofty perch before, but not since June 2008. He’s never been ranked first or second.
Scott, however, may be poised to make a run at the top spot. Though he still has a sizeable gap to erase (nearly three points separate he and No. 2 McIlroy), the Australian hasn’t finished worse than 15th in his last six majors.
Thomson opined that the major breakthrough could “open the floodgates” for both Scott and other talented Australians, two of whom (Jason Day and Marc Leishman) finished inside the top 5 at Augusta.
“We’ve got the quality, not the quantity,” Thomson said, according to the report. “And there is no reason why guys like Day and Leishman can’t go on to win majors. I think both of these players will become prominent from now on.”