Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy take turns praising each other on eve of Australian Open

SYDNEY – On the eve of the Australian Open — and their first tournament together since September — Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott were doing their best Wednesday to sound like a mutual admiration society.

Shortly after they played off the same tee in a pro-am at The Australian Golf Club, McIlroy credited Scott with giving him the confidence to have the 2014 that he's had — two majors and winner of the European Tour's Race to Dubai. And those are just the highlights.

McIlroy won last year's Australian Open with a birdie on the 18th hole at Royal Sydney, relegating Scott to second. While Scott has jokingly referred to McIlroy as a "thorn in my side," he says the Northern Irishman "has inspired me to work harder."