Q. Can you reflect on this being your 12th time, how things have evolved just with the International Team and just kind of your memories?
ADAM SCOTT: Well, there's a lot of memories. I think of course the team has evolved, but I would say significantly since 2019. And I think the creation of the shield is really starting to, you know, gain some legs, really now amongst the player group. There's a group of guys on this team they have been playing for the second or third time, but the younger players behind them are now aspiring to play under the shield. I think that recognition and playing for something has become important to the international players. We all are proud to do it. So I think that's been the biggest evolution of the International Team. I think we're seeing also, we're a lot more familiar with each other these days than probably when I started. You know, although we're still from all four corners of the globe, we're generally playing a lot together on the PGA TOUR. I think it's much easier for us to come together as a group for this week.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, look, I feel like my game has been in good shape throughout the year and I played reasonably well in the playoffs recently. But of course coming in off a good week last week at Wentworth is nice for the confidence, that's for sure. I still feel my game's in good shape and makes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday here a little more stress-free for me, just doing what I, you know, need to do to keep loose and not really searching for too much. Because I've been in that position too and there's stress and anxiety leading up to Thursday and I feel like I've got that under control this week.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, I do. Unfortunately, it's playing soft. We're not going to see the real test I think that they built this week, but I think it's going to present really well anyway. And in fairness it's held up really well considering how much rain it's had. I think it's going to be exciting because there's a lot of birdie opportunities with it playing soft like this.
Q. When you feel like you transitioned from a player on the team to like one of those leaders, how many Cups did it take for that to happen?
ADAM SCOTT: I think maybe 2015. From memory, Ernie might have been injured that year or for some reason Ernie wasn't on that team. And it was the first time that I felt like I was probably the senior member of the team and was a real leader. So however many Cups that was, 2015.
Q. With this being your 12th Presidents Cup, how are you the same, how are you different from your first through your 12th?
ADAM SCOTT: I think I'm the same in my passion for the game and competing is the same. I'm different in so many other ways. Obviously the experience is a nice thing for me coming in, and also being able to share some of that experience with the other guys like Ernie did with me my first Cup. You know, he really probably needed to take me under his wing that week, and he did and it was an incredible experience for me. I don't know if we have anyone on the team who really needs that this week. Even our rookies are quite seasoned, you know, like they're great players. No one's really out of their depth. So that's not the case this week. But I think I come in a lot calmer than I would have however many years ago that is.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: What makes a great match player? Yeah, I think there is a certain strategy to match play. It requires a discipline that probably we see less in individual stroke play competition today. The strategy of the game has changed throughout my career. But the strategy of match play maybe hasn't. It's a bit of an art, maybe a loss art almost. When I think, you know, of course you think of great match play players like Seve and Jose. Ernie Els I would consider an incredible match play player. And Geoff Ogilvy for that matter, you know, who is a real strategic type player and understands the game so well and he understood match play so well and he had a great record also. So leaning into what they have done and taught me over the years will be helpful this week for sure.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Sure, I think there are moments in a match where it's obvious what you have to do, because you're playing this guy who is right there in front of you and you already have the information of what he's done. Whereas that's very different in a stroke play tournament, stuff can be going on holes away from you and you're not standing right there seeing it. So sometimes it's really obvious and it leads you down a pat of just go for it. Whether that's a putt or a shot from the fairway. And there are other times where when you have options you have to think about it, and applying pressure in match play is one of the greatest things you can do. Even if that means laying up off the tee but your ball's in the fairway first, that can really influence what the other person does. I think you can influence people far more in match play than stroke play.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Well, my time team's not playing, so I don't really care, but I live in Queensland, so I'm sorry, but my mum goes for the Lions, so I'll said with mum (laughing).
Q. As you've become more of a leader in the International Team, Geoff and Trevor kind of conveyed to me that they have had to hold back on giving you too many administrative tasks for the team while you're playing so well. How do you balance being a leader off the course with just being a player on the course?
ADAM SCOTT: Honestly, Geoff's made that easy for me. I think he's done a phenomenal job in this role over the past couple of years, he's asserted like a calm confidence across the whole team and I picked up on his commitment to it early and felt like I really didn't need to shove my nose in any of that business. That was really nice for me because I really wanted to make the team and play. So that's what I focused on and I've let Geoff and his assistants focus on building out everything they want and I feel fortunate they put me in a really great spot where to and achieve the goal of making this team.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, it's been great. We've had a, we've only been here a couple days but we're up here 10 days ago having a practice round and we got to enjoy going out to a couple restaurants. Even went to a concert at the United Center. So we've enjoyed Chicago and of course the fans are going to be cheering hard for the Americans, but so far they have been treating us just fine, thank you.
Q. What show did you see?
ADAM SCOTT: We saw Eric Clapton.
Q. Going back to your comments earlier about match play. What's more mentally exhausting, match play or a final round on a Sunday for you as a competitor?
ADAM SCOTT: I think if you just are taking it day by day I think stroke play can be exhausting. But these tournaments, Cups, the week on the whole, is a lot. I think a lot goes into it leading up, probably a little more energy is spent in these practice days than normal. And with the extra round of golf in I think overall the week is more taxing than a regular event.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: I have a couple close connections to Medinah. A good friend of mine works here. So that's a nice feeling to be able to see him.
Q. How about the food in Chicago?
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, well we're being very well looked after this week food-wise. So we're being treated well. Geoff's done an incredible job with all things related to our team, but Geoff redesigning the golf course and then it will be a special week for us to play well and kind of, you know, put that feather in his cap that he designed the golf course and one the Cup here.
Q. Would you like to see an international women's team competition?
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, sure. I mean, I think if they desire that, that's absolutely fine. They do have some international Cup.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, it's a strong looking team for sure. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if they're satisfied with the event that they do play already, but it would be a hell of a team if they were put in an event like this.
Q. Captain Ogilvy expressed that he recognizes that you've been on this team 12 times, and he really wants to win one for you. How does -- and knowing that -- and that has been a sentiment. How do you accept that sentiment and what is your perspective on being here walking away 11 times empty handed?
ADAM SCOTT: Well, I mean, that's just a lot of disappointment, really. There have been some close calls in there. Of course, I think a lot gets made of a couple big defeats and that it's been so dominant, but when I look back on it closely there have been some really close calls that I've been involved in and it's come down to the last hole several times. And they can go anyway and it hasn't gone our way. For me, of course I want to win one desperately and I don't know how many more I can possibly play in. But it's a team effort to do it. It's not, you know, we'll all have to want it so badly. And I would just say everyone should want it for themselves as much as anybody else on the team. I mean, I think it would be an amazing experience for us all to win this Cup.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, I think once it comes down to Thursday I'm just going to focus hard on my golf and my match and winning some points in my matches. I would love to have a successful Cup as far as contributing points. That's all I can do. Of course, I'm going to encourage everyone else to do the same. I feel like I've been given a great opportunity by Geoff on the captains to have -- I'll have great partners and be put out in great positions to win matches. So I'll just focus on my own golf.
Q. You probably heard it many times people think you have the prettiest swing in golf. Does that ever annoy you when you have a bad day like your swing is so pretty so why didn't I shoot 65?
ADAM SCOTT: Sure, my swing feels like everybody else's most of the times. It has its good moments but it has plenty of bad moments too. I've always said I've fooled everyone with nice rhythm and maybe everyone else should try that, they might, it might produce some good results.
Q. What does that feel like to have people tell you if you want to get good at golf go watch Adam Scott's swing?
ADAM SCOTT: Well, you know, yeah, it's a compliment, for sure. But it's easy to see that just doesn't mean you stack up great results. There's a lot more to the game than a good looking swing. But I would say I would encourage that, people to look at rhythm and develop their own. I think that just masks a lot of faults in people's swings, including mine.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: I mean, it's a long journey and of course I've tried a million things with my swing, just like everybody else does in the game. But all my fundamentals were instilled from my dad early on. I was lucky for that. I got the basic fundamentals really well and including rhythm probably.
Q. Brian Rolapp has talked about wanting to get back to some bigger markets in the country. With the new schedule. Here you are back in Chicago. In your experience, one, both as a member of the board but also just as a player, does it feel different playing in big cities and how do you feel about that sort of philosophy moving forward about trying to get back to some of these major markets that maybe the PGA TOUR isn't in every year right now?
ADAM SCOTT: Well, I mean, just let's talk about Chicago because we are here. I mean, we used to come here all the time. I mean, it was Cog Hill early days for me. That was a big event. Of course Tiger was a prolific winner there, so I think that excited everybody. And it's a great market for golf. With all the talk about big markets, I think that got a lot of hype, and there's good reason for that. But there's a balance to it all. Of course we can't only go to big markets, there are other markets that are worthy of golf as well. But getting that balance right is important and that's how I see what the PGA TOUR's trying to do going forward. Hopefully we can touch as many of these great golf markets as possible.
Q. Have you ever talked with Hideki about winning for the International Team?
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, we have. I remember two years ago soon after Canada -- actually, we were in Japan and we had dinner and we talked about how much we want to win this together. Hideki has kind of been like my little brother (laughing). In this event since 2013 we've been playing together. For both of us I think a victory would be so sweet. It's been some difficult close calls and some really tough weeks in the Presidents Cup, but like I said before, I mean, this is such a great opportunity for both of us this week, another chance to win the Presidents Cup. I know we'll both be trying so hard to win some points.
Q. What more do you think you need to do to win the Cup?
ADAM SCOTT: It's hard to know. I mean, I feel like when I analyze it from with just my eyes and from where I sit, often I feel like the U.S. team wins the last couple of holes in matches very often when they're close, even though the score line can look big at the end of the week it's like the 18th and 17th holes goes in their favor and not ours often enough. When I watch Europe play the Ryder Cup, I feel like the 17th and 18th holes goes in Europe's favor. So I feel like the matches, even on some of the big differences in score are closer than they really are. And I don't think we're far off, but those final holes and closing out the match is so important in this. Of course sometimes that comes down to the putts as well. You've got to, like any week on Tour, when you win or play well you're putting well. It's a big thing in match play.
Q. Do you feel there is anything in the DNA of this course that is uniquely Australian?
ADAM SCOTT: That's uniquely Australian? Probably. I mean I think so. I mean Geoff's influence obviously has been strongly influenced by growing up in Melbourne. Which is some great golf architecture. Although this is not the sand belt of Melbourne, I think.
Q. (No microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: I think so. I think there are bits of it. But it's not, he's not copying it exactly. You got to put it in the right context here at Medinah. So I feel very comfortable out there at this course. I feel like I understand what it's asking of you, so I look forward to the week.
Q. How many times did you play this course so far?
ADAM SCOTT: I played now three times.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Tom Kim.
Q. Most likely to bring the energy.
ADAM SCOTT: Tom Kim.
Q. Most competitive?
ADAM SCOTT: Min Woo.
Q. Best dressed?
ADAM SCOTT: Who am I going to miss? I'll say Trevor.
Q. Most like tee to talk trash.
ADAM SCOTT: Oh, Si Woo.
Q. You only have so many years left, you're playing great, but if you could pick one major to win for the rest of your career what would you pick?
ADAM SCOTT: A major? The Open Championship. Yeah.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, I agree. I think there's probably a large portion of players that we would list that are in contention to play on the team that have been included as an international along the way. Obviously.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, obviously only 12 make it, but I'm sure Geoff and the captains before have like gone down and communicated with all these players. So I think they should feel like that. If they're not, then we may have missed something. But I really do feel like guys who haven't been part of this team should feel like they're an international, yes. And I think the shield is for sure doing that.
Q. Has Geoff told you anything about the golf course that you didn't already know?
ADAM SCOTT: I think he gave us a nice little preview of what we should expect here. But Geoff's really smart in the sense of he knows guys are going to have to play it the way they see it, not, maybe not necessarily the way he intended. He gave us a nice little preview and obviously it's not quite as firm as he would like to see it, but it's going to be, I think it's going to be an exciting course this week.
Q. Were you still an amateur in '99?
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, I was.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ADAM SCOTT: That's a great rookie to have. I mean, he's been close the last couple, I would say, to making the team. Which I gets starts showing like the depth that we're kind of having on the team. Our rookies are really seasoned veterans this time around, which I think really strengthens our team. I'm so pleased he's on the team because you need guys like Nick, who I know has it in the big moments. He's shown that winning the Canadian Open. He's shown that in the way he won the Phoenix Open. If he had a putt to win the Cup for us, I would be very pleased for that on Sunday.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports