There are players who win majors out of the blue, never to appear in the upper realm again.
Then there are golfers whose triumph finally comes and seems an appetizer for something more.
Adam Scott certainly fell into that category when the captured the Masters in 2013. He already was a bona fide star, having won eight times previously on the PGA Tour.
The Australian didn’t let up after pulling on the green jacket. Scott won the Barclays Classic later in ‘13, and he scored three more victories from 2014 through early 2016.
Then, possibly feeling the effects of the ban on his anchored putting style at the start of 2016, Scott all but disappeared. He had only four top-10s in 2017, and this season he has but one.
Just as frustrating, Scott has posted only a single top-10 in his last 12 major starts — which is why he was happy to be playing well and tied for ninth amid the suspended second round of the PGA Championship at Bellervie Country Club.
After opening with even-par 70, Scott fired a 65 on Friday.
“The last 12 to 18 months I’ve not played to expectations,” Scott said. “It shows you to be on the top level is really difficult. I didn’t have things lined up for me to perform, and hopefully I’m on the way back. Confidence is a big part of that.”
Scott, who missed the cut at the U.S. Open but was encouraged with a tie for 17th in the British Open, said he felt something different on the range before he teed off Thursday morning.
“I felt like the younger Adam Scott swinging the golf club,” said the 38-year-old. “There was a bit of ease, grace, flow and rhythm. That was enough to let me play a little more freely.”
Putting has always been an issue for Scott, who has long been consider one of the best iron players in the game. After the anchored putting ban, he tried a shorter putter and got two wins with it, but has since gone back to a broomstick putter while using the style that has carried Bernhard Langer to domination on the PGA Champions Tour.
“I made a couple of extra putts for par today to keep the momentum going, and that’s probably the difference between most of my golf generally over the last 12 months,” Scott said.
Woods battling back
Several thousand fans surrounded the eighth green as Tiger Woods walked to his ball in the middle of the fairway. He had to lay up after hitting into the rough, but would have a chance to knock an approach close for a birdie on the long par-5.
Then the horn sounded. Groans from the fans soon followed as they realized that their hours of waiting to see Woods would be for naught.
Play was suspended by an incoming thunderstorm, and as it turned out, none of the players would return to the golf course until Saturday morning.
Woods had to be disappointed himself. He was playing his best golf of the tournament, at 3 under par for his round to stand at 3 under overall and in a tie for 23rd place.
The 42-year-old would have to return with half the field at 7 a.m. local time, probably requiring a very early wake-up call to get his fused back ready to play what could be 28 full holes in a day.
After coming back from a 3-over start after two holes Thursday to card an even-par 70, Woods began the second round with birdies on three of the first five holes. He made putts of 14 feet at 2, 6 feet at 3 and 10 feet at 5.
At the par-3 sixth, Woods flared his tee shot into the left bunker and hit a heavy sand shot that stayed on the fringe, 15 feet from the hole. He drained that to make a big par save.
He was in more trouble on the seventh in a fairway bunker off the tee. But after his approach came up short of the green, Woods’ pitch hit the hole and nearly dropped in for birdie. He finished off another par save.
Finau’s crazy nine
It was a first nine holes for the ages, with not a single par, and Tony Finau won’t be particularly proud of the result.
The 28-year-old Finau got off to an incredible start with birdies on the first five holes. That moved him from 4 over to begin the round to 1 under, with a far better chance to make the weekend.
Then, disaster. Finau hit his tee shot into the water on the par-3 sixth, and after taking a penalty drop on the tee, he missed the green and eventually made triple-bogey 6.
Finau bounced back with two straight birdies, but bogeyed the ninth hole.
For good measure, Finau birdied the 10th before play was halted, leaving him still without a par.
Unhappy cut
Among those who seemed destined to miss the cut were reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed, with a 3-over total, and two-time Augusta winner Bubba Watson, who appeared to unhappily rush through a 78 that put him 8 over for the tournament.
Still on the course was five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, who was at 3 over while being even par for the day through eight holes.
Locals watch
Those with San Diego ties who finished their second round: Charley Hoffman (71, 3 over total); Brian Smock (71, 10 over); and Michael Kim (77, 10 over).
Still on the course, Pat Perez was 5 under and tied for ninth through nine holes. J.J. Spaun was 3 under (23rd) through 4; Xander Schauffele (2 under through 11); Jamie Lovemark (4 over through 12); and Scott Piercy (5 over through 8).
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