PINEHURST, N.C. — He has everything and doesn’t need to do this — continuing the grind at age 43.
Not with 14 career PGA Tour victories, including a Masters green jacket, generational wealth and magazine-cover good looks.
Yet Adam Scott refuses to relent, because he still thinks he has it in him, still burns to win and doesn’t mind the grind.
That’s why he’s playing in his 92nd consecutive major championship this week in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst — the longest active streak in the game.
That’s why, after playing five PGA Tour events in a row, Scott was in the 36-hole sectional qualifier field in Columbus, Ohio, last Monday trying to secure a spot into this week’s field.
Scott lost in a playoff, but at 61st in the Official World Golf Rankings (the top 60 are exempt), he got into the field in part because Grayson Murray, who was ranked 59th, was removed from the list after his death by suicide on May 25.
“I just love golf,’’ Scott told The Post on Monday after a lengthy session on the practice range. “That’s all I know how to do. That’s all I’ve ever done. These are the biggest tournaments there are, and even though my game hasn’t been stellar the last couple of years, I still believe I belong here and that I have the ability to still win any given week.
“It doesn’t just happen, of course.’’
Not without the kind of passion and effort Scott continues to pour into this.
In the history of the sport only 18 players have played in 100 major championships. Of those 18, only Jack Nicklaus, with 146 in a row, has played in more than 100 straight.
Scott is already qualified for next month’s British Open at Royal Troon and he has a lifetime exemption to the Masters as a past champion (2013), so his streak will reach at least 94 straight by next April, barring unforeseen circumstances. The streak began at the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham.
“I was a freshman in high school in 2001 and now I’m 37 years old,’’ Bill Horschel told The Post. “That just shows you how impressive Adam’s career has been and the talent that he has. He still believes he’s good enough to win a major, and he still is.
“Even though the Aussie mentality is sort of laid back, he has a fire and desire that still believes he can compete and win out here. You’ve got to give kudos to a guy like that who could just rest on his laurels.’’
Fellow players have been reaching out to Scott this week praising him for keeping the streak alive.
After Scott’s practice session on Monday, he was in the locker room and bumped into world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who won the Memorial on Sunday — his fifth victory in the last eight starts.
“Congratulations on the win,’’ Scott told Scheffler.
“Congratulations on keeping your streak alive,’’ Scheffler responded.
“I’d rather have your streak than mine,’’ Scott told Scheffler with a smile.
“Consistency is something that I revered and respected as a kid growing up in the game where my dad taught me everything … and I think is probably less so today, because we live in an instant world,’’ Scott said earlier.
Scott, who enters this week with only one top-10 finish this year, knows in his heart he should have won more majors in his career. He, too, knows his limitations and is self-deprecating about them.
“I can’t do the same stuff as I did 10 years ago, but I see stuff on the golf course that makes me inspired to keep doing it,’’ Scott said. “It’s not like it’s terrible. I would call it consistently average at the moment.’’
Asked if he ever imagined playing in 92 consecutive majors, Scott said, “The dreamer in me would have believed it. If you asked me in 2005 that I’d play all these majors, I would have said, ‘Yeah,’ because I would have told you I would have won them all by this time.’’
Max Homa marveled at Scott’s relentless grind.
“I’ve become enamored with Adam Scott’s passion for golf,’’ Homa told The Post. “He’s very into it. He’s not lazy in the least and when he plays bad, he’s pissed. He’s had rounds I’ve seen where he played bad and he goes to the gym and just gets after it. I don’t think you can teach that.’’
Fellow Aussie Cam Smith called Scott “probably one of the hardest working guys out here.’’
“He does all the right stuff and doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon,’’ Smith told The Post. “So, I wouldn’t expect that 92 number to be the end.’’
