Fuelled by history and feeling in the form of his life, Adam Scott is determined to emulate his childhood hero by ending a 21-year Australian drought at the British Open.
World No.1 Scott was just five when Greg Norman won the first of his two Open titles at Turnberry in 1986.
Norman’s first triumph came 21 years after Peter Thomson won the last of five Claret Jugs, and 2013 US Masters champion Scott would end an Australian wait of exactly the same length if he adds a second major title at Royal Liverpool.
Heart-breaking near misses in the past two British Opens have only increased a desire that has burned strongly inside Scott since seeing the triumphs of Norman – who also won at Royal St George’s in 1993 – and Ian Baker-Finch (Royal Birkdale, 1991).
“You want to emulate what your childhood hero has done and Greg winning the Open, it’s always sat very high with me,” said Scott, who spearheads an eight-strong Australian contingent at Hoylake from Thursday.
“And watching Baker-Finch win it as well, in the fashion he did, was pretty spectacular.
“It’s got a huge amount of meaning to me. I think it does to all the golfers.
“And (last year’s champion) Phil Mickelson, I really liked what he said, he felt like a complete golfer after he’d won this because it’s such a different test and examination of your game.”
Conceivably, Scott could have already matched Norman’s haul had he made the most of recent opportunities.
He blew a four-shot lead in disastrous 2012 final-round meltdown at Royal Lytham, while he was also in a winning position at Muirfield last year before an error-riddled finish cost him any chance.
But rather than ruing his inability to finish the job, Scott says the performances are proof he has what it takes to win links golf’s biggest prize.
As with the past two years, Scott has spent more than a week preparing at the tournament venue but he’s never felt quite so good heading into a major.
“I think I’m playing some of the best golf of my life at the moment,” said Scott, who turns 34 on the tournament eve.
“I should really be taking advantage of it and stepping up this week and putting myself in with a good chance.
“I think Lytham was the proving to me that I’ve got what it takes to win.
“It was obviously not the finish I wanted there but that gave me a lot of confidence, not just about playing well in majors, but also that I had the game to win an Open Championship.”
Scott is equal favourite alongside Rory McIlroy, and is by far Australia’s brightest prospect at Hoylake this week.
Few would completely write off Jason Day’s chances given his phenomenal consistency in majors (seven top 10s from 14 starts), but the world No.5 is yet to make his mark in links golf.
US PGA tour regulars John Senden and Marc Leishman have contended in big tournaments before but have also struggled to adjust their games to British conditions.
Matt Jones, Brett Rumford and rank outsiders Bryden Macpherson and Rhein Gibson are not tipped to seriously challenge but will feel anything is possible in what has been a stellar year so far for Australian golf.
AUSTRALIANS TO WIN BRITISH GOLF OPEN
1993 Greg Norman (Royal St George’s)
1991 Ian Baker-Finch (Royal Birkdale)
1986 Greg Norman (Turnberry)
1965 Peter Thomson (Royal Birkdale)
1960 Kel Nagle (St Andrews)
1958 Peter Thomson (Royal Lytham)
1956 Peter Thomson (Royal Liverpool)
1955 Peter Thomson (St Andrews)
1954 Peter Thomson (Royal Birkdale)
