You've got to admit, it's going to be nice in the years ahead to not be reminded by commentators during Masters week that, "no Australian has ever won the green jacket."
And with Adam Scott's victory on Sunday, a nicer guy couldn't have won. Scott is respected and admired by his peers. If any modern-day Aussie were going to end the drought at Augusta National, it just feels right that Scott was that man.
Clearly this accomplishment -- a long time coming for the folks Down Under -- is a monumental deal. I wanted to see exactly how it was playing out in Australia, so I went to various newspaper websites in the country to give you some samplings.
Click on the name of the newspaper at the end of each excerpt to go to the entire story:
"But this was a great day for Australian golf. Mostly, it was a great day for Adam Scott. A day when a nice guy finished first." -- The Sydney Morning Herald
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"Showing nerves of steel, Scott became an instant national hero when he nailed the winning birdie putt from 4m in near darkness, to beat 43-year-old Cabrera at the second extra hole on a rain-soaked Augusta National. Earlier, Scott had screamed 'c'mon Aussie' when he holed a 7m birdie putt on the last hole of regulation play to shoot a closing three-under-par 69 and grab the clubhouse lead at nine-under 279." -- The Australian
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Scott, 32, beat Angel Cabrera of Argentina at the second playoff hole to become the first Australian to win the Masters at Georgia's Augusta National.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said "by any measure it is an historical day for Australian sport".
"Adam Scott's triumph at Augusta immediately joins the ranks of the truly great Australian sporting moments," she said in a statement.
"Since its inception in 1934, no Australian has had the honour of putting on the Green Jacket - that changes today.
"With this outstanding achievement, Adam Scott has done his country proud."
Opposition leader Tony Abbot said Adam Scott can be proud of what he achieved today.
"By becoming our nation’s first Masters champion he has ended decades of Aussie heartbreak on America’s most prestigious course.
"It is a testament to the strength of the sport in this country that three Australians were in contention for the Green Jacket right until the final holes. I congratulate Jason Day and Mark Leishman for their fantastic
efforts at this year’s tournament." -- The Herald Sunday
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In a classy performance from start to finish, the much-admired Scott fitted neatly into the green jacket and then paid tribute to Australia's past golfing greats, including Thomson.
But he saved his biggest salute for childhood idol and close friend Greg Norman, whose own storied, but ultimately failed attempts to master Augusta National only served to make Scott's triumph even more significant.
Norman was no less complimentary, or bold, in lauding Scott's clutch performance in the tense play-off with 2009 champion Angel Cabrera, and predicting what the 32-year-old star is capable of in the future.
"I think he'll go on and win more majors than any other Australian golfer," said Norman, a two-time major champion. -- The Age
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Speaking from the Sanctuary Cove Golf Club, Scott's mother Pam said the family was beside themselves after the history-making win.
"It's something Adam has wanted so long, it was just a delight to watch," Pam Scott said.
"My daughter Casie and I watched it all morning and we just leapt in the air when he made that putt.
"It was a hard putt too, but he has worked so hard and deserves this." -- The Courier Mail
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THE whole of Australia was celebrating Adam Scott's Masters victory today, however the Sunshine Coast had cause to cheer among the loudest.
Scott broke through for the country's first win at Augusta when he outlasted Argentina's Angel Cabrera in a thrilling play-off.
The 32-year-old spent a year on the Sunshine Coast as a teenager, attending Matthew Flinders Anglican College and playing out of Headland and Twin Waters golf clubs.
Adam was a foundation student at Flinders in 1990, from Year 5 through to 7 before the family moved to the Gold Coast.
The college's Acting Principal, Gerry Price taught Adam physical education.
Matthew Flinders is no stranger to golfing talent, with it having an amazing player, Jack Trent, in Year 9. -- The Queensland Times
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Follow T.J. Auclair on Twitter, @tj_auclair.
