Three days after becoming the inaugural recipient of the R&A Spirit of Golf Award, Adam Scott, that agelessly excellent gentleman of the links, has demonstrated he's still no intention of becoming a 'ceremonial' golfer any time soon.

Despite going almost completely under the radar for four days at Royal Birkdale, it was another sign of Scott's enduring quality that, in the same week he turned 46, the Australian veteran was still impressive enough to tie for ninth place at his 26th Open Championship. 

Scott finished with the joint-second best round of the final day, a four-under 66 that was only bettered by runner-up Cameron Young's 64. 

It followed another 66 in Friday's second round, leaving Scott to celebrate a seventh top-10 finish in what was, remarkably, his 26th consecutive appearance in the Open and his 101st-straight major in total.   

It left him reflecting once more, proudly but a mite ambivalently, on a week when his longevity and golfing ambassadorial qualities were again being honoured by the authorities, while, actually, his main ambition is still to win golf tournaments.

"There were a lot of positives. A couple rounds of 66 is good at a major," shrugged Scott, who was still a bit frustrated at having endured four three-putts on Saturday's third-round 'moving day', which effectively killed off any winning chance he had.

Adam Scott continues to contend. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

"Yesterday was a bit of a killer day; it doesn't matter where you're playing or what the conditions are, you just can't afford to do that at the major championship level and hope to be up there.

"But everything was in pretty good order. Certainly, some experience around the links pays off, just managing your way around the hour-and-a-half here or there almost every day where you're just out of sorts and you just know how to get it round without getting yourself in too much trouble. 

"I did a pretty good job of that this week. There was some good stuff. I feel good about where my game's at."

Asked about his award, he admitted: "Look, it's a funny part of my career I'm getting to. I have to say, obviously, I'm honoured to be recognised by the R&A, and all of that's meaningful, awards that are not just down to what score you shoot. 

"I have to say it feels very nice to be recognised, that I've kind of put one foot in front of the other in the right direction for my career, and to be appreciated for that is very nice."

But reflecting on the season in which he earned his century of consecutive majors, he added: "I was a little surprised how big of a deal it seemed to be to everyone. I know it doesn't happen all the time, but it's not really something I set out to do. 

"Although I've been playing out here a long time, it's hard to hide that, and at a high level, so I'm proud of that. I don't know if it matters now going forward or not, I'd love to be playing in them obviously. I don't take that for granted -- but I'd love to win one more!"