Adam’s Eden

Paula Xiberras

The story of Australian golfer Adam Scott’s triumph at Augusta, home of the US Masters, in spite of all odds, is the subject of a new book ‘Amen’ (so named for the famous corner of the course, but maybe equally as much for the big ‘Amen ‘of all Aussie golf lovers in at last seeing a green and gold getting to don a green jacket) by Will Swanton & Brent Read. I spoke to Brent recently and he told me of his visit to Tasmania about 15 years ago, he calls it a lovely place and said he had taken in Cadbury and spent two weeks at Cradle Mountain and the Bay of Fires. He has however , Surprisingly,not as yet been to Augusta.

The hollowed turf of Augusta is held in the same regard as Wembley in soccer, Lords to cricket and St Andrews in Scotland.

Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta,Georgia, is one of the most famous golf clubs in the world. Founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts on the site of a former indigo plantation. It became for this Adam his Garden of Eden.

It’s interesting to note that the spiritual chakra of indigo is said to be in charge of intuition and spiritual knowledge .it seems somehow fitting that this venue of spiritual significance should be the place where someone also keenly aware of their spiritual dimensions, like Adam Scott ( he is interested in Buddhism,Bhutan and Nepal) should rightly be the first Australian to triumph there.

Brent believes Adam Scott’s calm demeanour helped him win the masters. The fact that the pressure was insurmountable each year that an Australian didn’t win that the legend of a curse grew. So many times Greg Norman tried and failed to win, there was always the lingering question would it be this year that an Australian win. Now that drought has been broken and the way is open for other Australians, many of them ready to stamp further their mark on this trophy that has up to now eluded Australia.

Some of these others have also have their story in the book including Marc Leishman and Jason Day. Brent believes that Jason Day is ‘fearless’ and maybe the next Australian to win the Masters in another 4 or 5 years now that the oasis has finally arrived

Brent believes the so called curse may have originated in the fact that for so long the whole course was never shown on television coverage it came to be that a mystique and mystery surrounded the unknown and unseen.

Adam Scott assisted by his new caddy Steve Williams ( who happens to be the former caddy of Tiger Woods ) probably the best caddy in the world. Adam found his perfect storm at Augusta, in a place that is pedantic down to the fact coca cola can only be drank from special Masters coca cola cups. An Aussie wearing the the sacred green jacket victory may have been a breathe of fresh air.

Adam, true to his name became the ‘first’ man to win for Australia and by doing so ironically became ‘the great Scott.’

‘Amen’ is out now published by Allen and Unwin.