Adam Scott at 100 consecutive majors — only Nicklaus has done better

Shortly before this month’s Memorial Tournament, Adam Scott sought out Jack Nicklaus for a photo together. “One hundred,” Scott said to Nicklaus, “that feels like an eternity. And you’ve got 46 more to go! I don’t think I’ll make it.” Nicklaus laughed as he recounted the anecdote later—and then paid tribute to the Australian’s longevity.

At the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the 45-year-old is competing in his 100th consecutive major tournament. He is only the second player in golf history to reach this milestone—before him, only Nicklaus had achieved it, competing in 146 consecutive majors from 1962 to 1998. Among active professionals, Jordan Spieth trails by a wide margin—and is still about twelve years away from matching Scott’s record.

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A streak that began in 2001

Scott’s streak began three days after his 21st birthday at the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where he finished 47th. Since then, he hasn’t missed a single major. The only gap would have been the 2020 Open Championship—but like all golf events during those weeks, it fell victim to the pandemic.

When his streak began, Apple had just unveiled the first iPod, and Tiger Woods held all four major trophies at the same time. It’s a period that brings the magnitude of his achievement into sharp focus.

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More Than Just Participation: The Major Record

Scott hasn’t just gone through the motions in these 100 starts. He’s racked up 20 top-10 finishes, including seven top-three finishes and the major victory of his career: the 2013 Masters. He’s come close recently, too. He finished T10 at the 2024 Open Championship, and at the 2025 U.S. Open in Oakmont, he went into the final round just one stroke behind the lead.

His record by tournament:

The Close Calls

It wasn’t always a given that his streak would continue. Before the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Scott got his right hand caught in a car door, played through the injury—and finished tied for 26th. In 2018, he had to fight his way into the U.S. Open field through qualifying.

Things got closest in 2024: Ranked 61st in the world, Scott missed automatic qualification via the top 60, failed in the final qualifying playoff, and was only the first alternate. He didn’t make the field until the USGA removed Grayson Murray—who had passed away a month earlier—from the top 60.

Add to that the context of qualifying: Aside from the Masters—for which his 2013 victory granted him permanent entry—Scott has no guaranteed exemption. Week after week, he must earn his way into the other three majors via the world rankings (usually within the top 50 to 60). The departure of numerous players to LIV has made this path easier for him. He is currently ranked 49th in the world; last month, he had climbed as high as 43rd.

Comments from Colleagues

While Scott tends to downplay his consistency, his colleagues have shown him respect.

“It’s absolutely incredible. Just playing 100 majors in a career is a tremendous achievement—but 100 in a row… I just think about the level you have to maintain to do that, and staying injury-free.” — Rory McIlroy, whose own streak stands at 43

“Staying healthy is huge. But what about the fact that he’s been really good for 25 years? That’s extremely impressive. It’s crazy. I think that deserves more recognition than he gets.” — Justin Thomas

Scott himself remains level-headed: “Part of me doesn’t want to be the guy who just has all these things that have nothing to do with winning. I’d rather win something—let’s celebrate a U.S. Open victory instead of just making the cut.” He also attributes his success to luck and a supportive environment: “I’ve generally had great guidance in terms of physical conditioning and training, which has kept me healthy and virtually injury-free.”

Outlook: The streak isn’t over yet

The streak is likely to continue. Next month’s Open Championship would be Scott’s 101st consecutive major and his 26th consecutive Open appearance—qualified via a fifth-place finish at the Crown Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in December. The 2027 Masters is guaranteed for him thanks to his 2013 victory and would bring the streak to at least 102.

Mathematically, Scott wouldn’t tie Nicklaus’s record of 146 until the 2038 Masters—a scenario in which, by his own admission, he has no interest. Regardless of his performance at Shinnecock, the streak shifts the focus to Scott’s later career anyway: away from individual results and toward a consistency that has become rare in professional golf.