Adam Scott wants to be playing captain when Presidents Cup returns to Melbourne

Adam Scott hasn’t ruled out the prospect of being a playing captain when the Presidents Cup returns to Melbourne in 2028.

His international team could potentially be titleholders then as they look to use the “hurt” of recent close losses in this month’s showdown with the stacked USA team.

Scott, 44, is playing in a staggering 11th straight Presidents Cup, 21 years after making his debut in 2003, and does so as Australia’s highest-ranked player after a barnstorming end to the PGA Tour season.

US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley earnt a captain’s pick to play in the Presidents Cup team and could be playing when the US tackles Europe next year. Tiger Woods was also playing captain when the Presidents Cup was played in Melbourne in 2019.

Given his constant search for success Scott, who would be 48 in 2028, said a dual role wasn’t out of the question because he had a few more “left in me”. But being captain alone was also in his sights.

“I think I’ve been probably well prepared by whenever that time comes. The captains have been great, really my kind of colleagues,” he said.

“And they’ve been, I wouldn’t say grooming me for the spot, but I certainly know what I’m getting into. If that day comes, I’ll be looking forward to it. But you never know. I might have a couple more playings left in me.

“It’s starting a little trend. We have a potential playing Ryder Cup captain next year and Tiger’s done a playing captain role and he won in Melbourne in 2019. Maybe so.

“But you know, I’ll look forward to that time when it comes, even just going back to Australia, playing captain or just part of the team, it will be great.”

Scott said he brought “experience and enthusiasm” to the International team this time around, both qualities that could be crucial against a US outfit, including world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, stinging from Ryder Cup defeat in Rome last year.

But having not won the Presidents Cup since 1998, and after close losses in 2015 and 2019, Scott said the Internationals, a team that welcomes back Jason Day and also has the next gen of stars including Min Woo Lee playing for the first time, was primed for a fight at Royal Montreal on the last weekend in September.

“There’s been a lot of hurt, especially on a couple of the close calls, most recently in Korea and then in Melbourne,” he said.

“Melbourne was a tough one going into Sunday with the lead in my home country and not getting it done, but the US is a great team.

“They keep putting up great teams and I feel like the great memories for me are being part of this team, being with the guys and on a different level for the week and hopefully inspiring some of the younger players now to continue to make the teams, continue to gain experience and eventually get the upper hand on the US team.”

The Presidents Cup will run from September 26-29.