And he hopes Scott’s success in the Players Championship last Sunday acts as a spur to the likes of Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia.

“I think Adam has a massive career ahead of him,” said Bjorn.

“His talent is so big and his swing so good I see him being the next big thing in the game. It’s the way he carries himself too. A lot of people, including Tiger Woods and Greg Norman already, want to help him because he is such a nice kid.”

Bjorn knew Scott better than most even before the Adelaide youngster started going out with the nanny to Bjorn’s young family and he was among the first to congratulate him at Sawgrass when he overcame his last-hole trauma to beat Padraig Harrington by a shot.

Two shots clear, Scott hit his second into water and had to make a 10-footer for the title.

Harrington had played his final 12 holes in eight under par to put the pressure on and Bjorn is full of admiration for him too.

“Padraig is a wonderful player. He grinds out results consistently. He doesn’t seem to be doing anything different to anybody else, but the way he goes out and performs time after time is fantastic.”

As for Rose, Garcia and others with similar aspirations, Bjorn waits with interest to see how they react to Scott’s triumph.

“Hopefully it can act as a wake-up call. I’m not saying they could do what I think Adam is capable of, but they can certainly step it up a bit,” he added.

Garcia was fourth in the world at the end of 2002 and after deciding to make swing changes currently finds himself 45th.

Rose, a year younger at 23, was in the top 40 after four victories two years ago, but is now 71st.

Those two are not in action this week – Rose was partnering Masters debutant Ian Poulter on an early visit to Augusta National before seeing coach David Leadbetter in Florida – but Scott, Harrington and Bjorn do all play in Atlanta.

Phillip Price, Paul Lawrie and Jose Maria Olazabal, all Masters-bound as well, are also in the field.