Golf veteran Robert Allenby backs Adam Scott to claim top ranking from Woods

Veteran Australian golfer Robert Allenby has backed his countryman Adam Scott for being destined for greatness and said that it is only a matter of time before Scott relieves world number one Tiger Woods of his ranking.

Scott missed a golden opportunity to join Allenby as the only other player to complete a summer Triple Crown of Australia's big three tournaments when he squandered a four-shot final-round lead at the Australian Open on Sunday.

However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Allenby, who retains sole membership of Australian tour golf's most exclusive club, said that far greater honours are in store for Adam Scott on the world stage and backed him to replace Woods as world number one.

Tipping Australia's first US Masters champion to win at least three more majors, Allenby said that if he had to welcome anyone into the Triple Crown club, it would be Scott, adding that the Australian is unquestionably the world's best player at the moment as he has been playing very well for the last two-and-a-half years.

Allenby also said that Scott could have won the Masters in 2011, at Lytham last year, and the two British opens, adding that it will happen soon for Scott.

Scott, though, won four tournaments this year - including a major - plus the first FedEx Cup playoff event in America, and has cut Woods' rankings lead over the world No.2 in half with two victories, a second and a third at the World Cup over the Australian summer, the report added.