Top dog Scott well on way to emulate Norman

Australian golfer replaces Woods as world number one

SYDNEY: Adam Scott's ascension to golf's world number one spot on Monday is in sync with his goals to emulate the feats of his boyhood idol Greg Norman.

Scott, 33, has overtaken Tiger Woods in the latest rankings to become golf's world number one for the first time.

He is the first Aussie to claim the top spot in the rankings since 'the Great White Shark' Norman reigned for 331 weeks in the 1980s and 1990s.

Scott has often spoken about the inspirational effect Norman had on his formative golfing years and paid tribute to the two-time major winner after capturing the Masters at Augusta last year.

"Part of this is for him [Norman] because he's given me so much time and inspiration and belief," said Scott. "I drew on that a lot. I somehow managed to stay in each shot when I needed to.”

Norman had predicted Scott would topple Tiger Woods from the world number one spot and has been vindicated by his protégé reaching the pinnacle ranking after spurning four chances to overtake Woods in recent months.

Now Scott, who enraptured his homeland with his sudden-death playoff win to become the first Australian to capture the Masters, will become only the 17th player to hold the number one ranking.

"I think it's a nice feather in the cap," he said. “I mean, if I was never world number one when I'm this close, I'd be disappointed.”