PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Adam Scott won the Genesis Invitational a year ago, about one month before the PGA Tour ground to a halt in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
He then took a longer break away from the game than many of his fellow pros, not returning to the Tour until the PGA Championship in August at Harding Park in San Francisco.
Ahead of that five-month stretch, he returned home to Australia.
“I think it was just the uncertainty of everything at that point,” he said on Wednesday at Riviera Country Club. “If I was going to get stuck somewhere, then I was going to get stuck in Australia.
“I think more incredible is we’re still sitting in kind of the same position as where we started when we restarted last year in June. We’re still doing the same thing. It’s quite amazing how long this has all dragged out for.”
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This week will mark just his 10th Tour appearance since winning at Riviera 12 months ago. Now 40, that win one year ago was his 14th on Tour.
“I love this place,” Scott said. He had won the tournament one other time, a ran-shortened 36-hole affair in 2005 when it was called the Nissan Open. “Although I won the tournament before, it was in different circumstances, so to win last year with four rounds, but also an incredible field, an amazing atmosphere out here, special memory for me. Obviously looking back on it, it was nice to get a win in before we shut down for such a long period of time. It’s nice that we can be back. The course is fantastic, but we’re missing the crowds obviously.”
Scott spoke further on fans, or lack thereof, as spectators will not be allowed on the grounds at Riviera this week.
“It takes away a lot from playing the golf tournament, I think especially on the weekends. There’s no doubt it’s a significant difference, and I think for a guy like Rory and myself, you know, I enjoy the atmosphere that they create … feeding off the positive energy of knocking a birdie putt in can go a long way. I think I’ve certainly realized that that’s very helpful to me, so I’m really looking forward to having them back out here.”
