Butch Harmon told Golf Night that Adam Scott is the only man capable of challenging Tiger Woods.
Aussie the only one capable of catching Tiger, says Harmon
Butch Harmon has singled out Adam Scott as the only man capable of challenging Tiger Woods.
The respected coach believes the Australian has the make-up to rise to the challenge that is currently beyond the current crop of leading golfers.
Colin Montgomerie is the latest to leading light to admit it is impossible to get near Woods, but Harmon says his protege is the best-equipped out there.
He already believes Scott is the best young player in the world - and is getting better - and believes if the world number one eases of at all in the near future, the Aussie will be breathing down his neck.
"Adam Scott I think is the best young player in the world," he told
Golf Night.
"He's the best player under 30 years of age in the world by far. You may get an argument of Luke Donald or Sergio Garcia but I just think Adam Scott is above them. He's a truly great talent, he works very hard and he's come along very quickly.
"I think he's the only one who can challenge Tiger Woods in the next four or five years. He's the only one I see of the young players with all the things it takes to get close to Tiger Woods.
Challenges
"He's a great player: he's long off the tee; he's a good driver; he's worked on his putting and is putting consistently now; his wedge play has got a lot better and I think he wants it more. He wants to be the guy that challenges Tiger Woods.
"Having said that, it's a very tall order because there's only one Tiger Woods and I don't see anyone on the horizon in the next four, five or even six years that is going to knock him off that number one spot - unless he chooses to be less competitive than he has.
"But I do think Adam Scott has a chance to get there."
Still only 27, Scott has 13 professional tournament wins under his belt already.
He has just won the Qatar Masters to take his tally on the European Tour to five and says Harmon, it was the decision to tackle Europe before the United States that has stood him in such good stead.
"I advised him and his father Phil that he should go to Europe to play," he said.
"When he turned pro he wanted to play in the United States but I said 'no, I think you should go to the European Tour. It's a better proving ground for yourself'.
"I think the conditions are more difficult, the courses are a little more difficult than in the US, the travel is different - instead of going from state to state you go from country to country with your passport and all the problems that brings'. I just said I think he'll learn more.
"The top of the money list is about the same - great players are great players - but I'm not so sure at this point in time (2000) the European Tour was as strong at the bottom as the American Tour.
"So I thought he'd have a better chance and of course he won three or four tournaments in Europe, came to the States and now he's moved up the ladder."
