Golf-Riviera fan Scott eyes European order of merit crown

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PACIFIC PALISADES, California, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Australian world number five Adam Scott has set his sights on winning the 2008 European Tour order of merit title.

Although the Adelaide native will play most of his tournament golf on the lucrative PGA Tour in the United States, he plans to compete in the minimum 11 events required in Europe.

"The last two seasons, I've missed getting my minimum number of tournaments in Europe by one each year," Scott told reporters on Tuesday during preparation for this week's Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.

"This year I just decided to commit to getting my numbers up and go for the order of merit again. Simply because I played in the Middle East, it's going to be easier for me to do that."

Scott tied for 23rd in last month's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship before blowing away the field the following week with a blistering 11-under-par 61 to win the Qatar Masters by three shots.

The 27-year-old's sixth European Tour victory lifted him into fifth spot in the order of merit.

"It's not necessarily a lot more play in Europe but it's just a matter of me keeping my membership over there," Scott said of his 2008 tournament schedule. "It's pretty similar to what I've done in the past."

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