Superstar golfer Cameron Smith has supported good mate Adam Scott’s decision to miss the Australian summer tournaments, pointing to the fact it’s only the third time Scott has missed his home tour schedule in 24 years.
A winner of two Australian PGAs, two Australian Masters and an Australian Open, 44-year-old Scott revealed exclusively to Australian Golf Digest on Friday that he has opted to rest this summer after a long year. Scott’s globetrotting schedule yielded a career resurgence, finishing T-4 out of the PGA Tour’s best 30 golfers in the season-long standings. Scott bagged two second-place results among six worldwide top-10s (including the Open Championship at Royal Troon) and made a record 11th consecutive International team appearance at the Presidents Cup.
“I spoke to Adam a lot throughout the year, and I think his great play towards the end of the year probably led to a few more events than he wanted to play, and to have some time off is always a good thing,” Smith said on Friday at the Queensland PGA. “It’s always nice to have him back down here, but at the same time, he’s earned his rest, and I’m sure he’ll be back down here in the future to support again.”
Scott has spent more than six months on the road this year – 22 official events across the DP World, PGA and Japan tours, as well as the Presidents Cup and US Open qualifying. Scott played five consecutive weeks leading into the US Open in attempt to gain entry to the Pinehurst field before being forced to enter a 36-hole shootout for it.
Scott has been an avid supporter of the Australian tournament golf since turning pro in 2000. This is only the second time in his career that he has skipped his home summer when fit, with 2018 the other occasion. The third missed summer was in 2008 but Scott was injured.
Scott has told this publication he sees 2025, when he turns 45, as one of the last remaining years in his career that he will have a legitimate shot at winning a second career major to go with his 2013 Masters triumph at Augusta. He is guaranteed to play in all four majors – a certainty he hasn’t had in several years – in 2025 and is eligible for all the PGA Tour’s signature events.
Instead of competing in the Australian PGA (November 21-24) and Australian Open (November 28-December 1), he will take several weeks off and return early in 2025.
“Throughout my career I have always done my best to come back to Australia to compete in at least some of our great local events. This year will be an exception, as I need to spend some quality time with my family and get some rest,” Scott said.
“I’m delighted to see that there are quality fields for our premier events. I wish all participants the best of luck, and I am sure the tournaments will be very successful.
“Even though I won’t be there this year I thank all the sponsors for supporting Australian golf”.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said: “While we would love to see him again in 2024, we fully appreciate and respect why he won’t be returning to Australia this summer after successful campaigns on all tours and the Presidents Cup.”
Golf Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said: “We look forward to welcoming Adam back to Australia in the future and watching him continue to take on the world’s best, as an outstanding international ambassador for Australian golf in 2025.”
In addition to Scott’s absence, two-time major winner Minjee Lee is yet to commit to the mixed Australian Open. Cameron Smith will be the marquee player at both the PGA at Royal Queensland and the Open in Melbourne while Jason Day will star at Royal Queensland, but not at Kingston Heath and Victoria GC the week after.
LIV Golf star Smith is in action this week at the Queensland PGA in Brisbane, the first of four domestic events including the NSW Open and the two Australian majors.
Day is returning for the first time since 2017.
