Golf Australia boss Stephen Pitt says he’ll break the bank to lure Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy back again next year after the two superstars staged a thrilling climax to the Australian summer on Sunday.
Sports fans have flocked to Australian fairways in record numbers not seen since Greg Norman’s heyday in the 1980s and 90s.
Pitt likened Scott’s influence and pulling power to `The Shark’, and admitted the presence of Australia’s first-ever Masters champion was imperative to the continued growth and popularity of golf in the country.
“He brings greater interest to your tournaments, greater press coverage, greater crowds,” Pitt said.
“People want to see their heroes and role models and it really drives the game forward.
“His win at Augusta created such a huge global platform for him to speak and he spoke so eloquently about Australia and golf and that’s so valuable for Australia as a nation.
“He’s exciting to watch, a good looking, eloquent young man that’s captivated the sporting audience.
“I think he’s now considered to be the most likeable sporting person in the country.”
The busy tour schedule makes it difficult for the top players to commit early to the Australian tournaments.
But close to 60,000 fans pouring through the gates at Royal Sydney was proof of how critical Scott is to a successful summer.
The crowd numbers were pushing the records set in 2011 when Tiger Woods was in town.
Organisers are confident both Scott and McIlroy will make it a priority to return and Pitt said everything would be done to ensure it happens.
“It’s been a landmark Australian Open,” Pitt said.
McIlroy said he hoped to return next year and applauded Scott for committing to four Australian tournaments in four weeks.
“I always try to come back and defend where I’ve won,” said the newly crowned Australian Open champion.
“It’s a real credit to him. He’s played all four weeks. It would have been easy to skip a couple … but he knew what responsibility he had to come down.
“He’s a true gentleman and a credit to the game and this country.”