So, the R&A, in its infinite wisdom and possibly after a few too many port and Haskells, has decided to hand Adam Scott their very first "Spirit of Golf Award." It sounds like something you'd get for being really good at holding the door open for people or for mastering the art of the perfectly timed nod. Apparently, this gong isn't just for a sweet swing, but for having that certain je ne sais quoi on and off the fairway. You know, that rare thing in pro sports where someone doesn't act like a complete arse.
Scott, whose career is longer than a shanked drive into the woods, is being recognized for stuff way beyond just hitting the ball. His insane streak of major appearances, which is pushing a century – a number that would make a tortoise sweat – points to sheer grit. Honestly, it feels more like a prize for having a constitution that could survive a week-long pub crawl in Dublin rather than just raw, overwhelming talent. Although, let's be fair, he's got that too.
He's now part of a fancy club, or will be, of golfers who apparently still remember what golf is supposed to be about. We're told this award isn't about racking up birdies or chugging champagne from trophies. Nope, it's about something way more slippery, like the "spirit" of golf. A concept, I'd argue, about as easy to pin down as a perfectly struck 3-iron on a gale-force day in Scotland.
This whole shebang, dropped right before the hallowed, ancient tradition of The Open kicks off, puts Scott in a rather exclusive, brand-new club. It's a nice thought, I guess, that while everyone's busy chasing sub-par scores and free polos, some suits upstairs still appreciate a bit of old-fashioned sportsmanship. I just hope the next bloke to get this award has Scott's knack for looking sharp and a quiet, almost imperceptible, devotion to the game's more philosophical bits.