Adam Scott is right in contention to win a second major at the US Open and if he can get over the line, he’ll write his name into the record books at the expense of Rory McIlroy.
Scott is positioned nicely at three under par and will be part of the final group alongside Sam Burns.
The Australian has roared into form out of nowhere and just a single shot off the lead, he’ll know full well this might be his best ever chance to add another major to his resume.
Scott, of course, has experience when it comes to winning the big ones having won the Masters in 2013.
The same cannot be said for Sam Burns, J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland, who are all in contention.
For Scott, drawing on that experience from 12 years ago could well be the difference and if he does get the job done, then that 12 year gap holds even more significance.
How Adam Scott can usurp Rory McIlroy by winning the US Open
For any golfer, winning a major is the icing on the cake and most players will be happy to go through a career and win just the single one.
Adam Scott has that in the bag with his 2013 Masters win but in seeking a first US Open title at Oakmont, he’s also set to write himself into the record books.
Should Scott win, it will be the longest period ever between major wins.
Scott’s win in 2013 means we are now 12 years on and that means a win at Oakmont puts him ahead of Rory McIlroy and a select few others in terms of the longest waits between majors.
McIlroy’s win at The Masters this year capped a near11-year barren spell that had lingered since his win at The PGA Championship in 2014.
At 44-years-old, this might well be the best chance Scott gets to make it number two.
The longest gaps between major wins in golf history
Golf is very much a sport of longevity and it always shows how not giving up and continuing to work on your craft can pay dividends.
As we saw with McIlroy, the relief was palpable when he got his Masters win and while Scott isn’t under the same pressure, he’d love to add a second major to his career’s work.
In terms of the longest ever gaps, there’s been some big ones, with McIlroy sitting among the pile of those to have waited 11 calendar years for another major win. It’s worth noting that McIlroy is not quite number one here, given he won the PGA in August 2014 and won at Augusta in April 2025.
| Player | Gap between major wins |
| Rory McIlroy | 11 years (2014-2025) |
| Henry Cotton | 11 years (1937-1948) |
| Julius Boros | 11 years (1952-1963) |
| Hale Irwin | 11 years (1979-1990) |
| Ben Crenshaw | 11 years (1984-1995) |
| Tiger Woods | 11 years (2008-2019) |
| Lee Trevino | 10 years (1974-1984) |
| Ernie Els | 10 years (2002-2012) |
Come this evening, we might well be adding Adam Scott to that list and in terms of stories, it would be quite the tale given it’s his 96th consecutive start in a major.
While America will be pulling for Spaun and Burns, you feel the rest of the world and the golfing purist will want Scott to bring it home.
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