‘Borderline unplayable': Adam Scott finds silver lining after US Open collapse
Former world No 1 fades after holding a share of the lead on final day but earns shot at 100th straight major with 12th-place finish
www.theguardian.comAdam Scott is set to compete in the U.S. Open 2026, marking his 100th consecutive major start.
Key points from recent reporting:
- Scott earned an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Open by virtue of his world ranking, keeping his streak alive for a 100th straight major. This streak is highlighted as the longest active run since Jack Nicklaus’s 146 in a row.[1][3]
- The U.S. Open field for 2026 was expanded by about 24 exempt spots based on world rankings, with additional qualifying events in England and Dallas to fill remaining places.[2][3][1]
- Scott’s current world ranking around the time of qualification put him at No. 49, which is within the exemption threshold used by the US Open to bypass qualifying.[1][2]
Context and implications:
- This milestone underscores Scott’s durability and consistency across decades, including performances that helped him secure exemptions despite not always being ranked in the top tier at every moment.[1]
- The 2026 U.S. Open is on track to feature a mix of long-time veterans like Scott and rising players who earned spots through the world rankings and through regional qualifiers.[3][2]
Illustration:
- Milestone streak: Scott’s 100th consecutive major start at the U.S. Open is a notable benchmark in golf, paralleling historic streaks in the sport’s majors. This kind of durability is rare and often celebrated in profiles and feature pieces.[2][1]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of Adam Scott’s major-start milestones around 2024–2026 and map his exemption statuses for the U.S. Open to visualize how the field filled. I can also summarize recent performances that contributed to his ranking near No. 49 leading into the 2026 event.