Adam Scott wins inaugural R&A Spirit of Golf award

Adam Scott of Australia received the inaugural R&A Spirit of Golf award on Wednesday ahead of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon made the announcement during his news conference in Southport, England.

"This new award is designed to recognize an individual who demonstrates the spirit of the game on a global scale and exemplifies the values, behaviors and traditions of golf," Darbon said.

"... Adam is a fantastic ambassador for the sport who has made a significant positive impact on golf all around the world. He's the ultimate professional and has consistently displayed integrity, respect, and passion for the game. We'll share the full details of the award following this press conference."

Scott, 45, has recorded 33 professional wins, including 14 on the PGA Tour, with his lone major triumph coming at The Masters in 2013. He was runner-up at The Open in 2012 and has twice placed third at the PGA Championship.

In addition to the new award, Darbon discussed innovations designed to enhance the fan experience at this season's final Grand Slam tournament. They included the Last-Chance Qualifier won by Joe Dean on Monday and the Heroes Classic on Tuesday, a three-hole scramble featuring reigning Open champions Scottie Scheffler and Miyu Yamashita.

"We're delighted by how those events have been received, both here onsite by the spectators present and across our channels more broadly," Darbon said.

"We've also introduced a raft of digital and broadcast innovations, including the redesigned official app, the all-new fantasy game, as well as enhanced live streaming, dedicated player coverage, and expanded global TV coverage."

Darbon said a record 300,000 fans are expected to visit The Open this week, and that nearly 750,000 applications already have been filed for the 2027 Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland.

Darbon defended The Open's $17.75 million purse, up $750,000 from last year but still a distant fourth among the majors.

"We look at prize money as part of a broader package that we offer here at The Open Championship," he said. "We've also increased and continued to increase our investment into the player experience, and we're very proud of the fact that we consistently get told by the players that the experience -- the facilities, the services, the support -- that we offer during Open Championship week sets the benchmark for the rest of golf. We're intent on ensuring that that continues to remain the case."

--Field Level Media