Scott validates his selection as captain’s pick

SAN FRANCISCO – The putt was a few feet but it looked like a few miles.

Because the man trying to make it hadn’t made a putt that meant anything since, well, this being the Presidents Cup and all, George W. Bush occupied the Oval Office.

Such has been the awful struggle this year for the once–promising Adam Scott, ranked No. 3 in the world only a year ago, No. 65 today. Yet here he was, a questionable choice by captain Greg Norman, attempting to secure a much–needed point for the International squad in Thursday afternoon’s opening foursomes.

Scott took his time as players on both sides huddled around Harding Park’s 17th green. No need to rush now. Just concentrate on the proper stroke and put the thing away.

The stroke was pure and so was the result – a birdie that gave Scott and Ernie Els a 2–and–1 triumph over the U.S. team of Hunter Mahan and Sean O’Hair.

At first, there was no reaction from Scott. He retrieved the ball out of the cup and shook hands with his opponents. But when the man who put his trust in him approached, a simple handshake would not do. Norman and Scott, the two Aussies, embraced after quieting the critics … for one day at least.

“I’m very proud of him,” the Shark said of Scott, “because he wasn’t hitting the ball that great on Tuesday. He figured it out, like we all do, somehow.”

Norman said he sensed a different Scott on the driving range. “He felt very confident, very relaxed,” he said.

Relaxed? That’s not exactly how Scott put it.

Standing on the opening tee, he felt more anxious than he has been in a long time, and why wouldn’t he be? A meltdown this week would not only validate the multitude of second–guessers, but it might also erode even further the confidence of a player who has prevailed six times on the tour but compiled only one Top 10, a second way back in January, in 19 appearances this season. Plus he would be letting down Norman, his hero while growing up in Australia.

So what did Scott do on the first hole? He smoked it, that’s what, right down the heart of the fairway. He hit a lot of solid shots on Thursday – drives of 320 yards and longer – along with his share of sloppy ones. That happens quite often in the alternate–shot format. Guys are playing out of their normal rhythm, often going six holes or longer before facing a putt of any real consequence.

Fortunately for Scott, when he did stumble a bit with a poor drive or approach, Els bailed him out, especially on the greens. The saves allowed the International team to maintain its slim lead on the Americans, setting the stage for the last two holes when Adam Scott turned once again into the Adam Scott who was destined to be the sport’s next big star.

Tutored in Las Vegas by Butch Harmon, the same teacher who did such a stellar job with a guy named Woods, Scott was known for his gorgeous swing and his good looks, which made him a favorite of female golf fans. The only thing holding him back was his inefficiency on the greens – until this year when he was inefficient everywhere.

At the 16th hole on Thursday, after Els hit a wonderful drive, Scott nailed a short–iron approach to within 18 inches. The putt was conceded for the team’s first birdie of the day. After O’Hair missed his birdie effort, the International team extended its advantage to 2 up with only two to go, securing a half point.

At 17, Els gave his partner a little advice.

“Ernie said to just go for it,” Scott said.

And go for it, he did, the ball on the 17th, a driveable par 4, coming to rest on the front of the putting surface. Els lagged it to within a few feet, putting the pressure on Scott.

Scott will be tested again on Friday as he’ll go off with Retief Goosen in the opening match against Phil Mickelson and Justin Leonard.

He is sure to experience more jitters, especially if the Internationals can hang in there the next three days against the favored Americans. They are down only one point after day one, and for a squad that has dropped five of the seven prior Presidents Cups, that’s a triumph.

Not as great a victory as the one Scott had, the player many felt shouldn’t have been here in the first place.