Adam Scott ready for Australian Open bid

Adam Scott’s bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of titles at his home Australian Masters fell agonisingly short yesterday, but the world No 2 declared himself in good shape ahead of his ­re-match with Rory McIlroy at the Australian Open this week.
Adam Scott: Lost in Masters. Picture: GettyAdam Scott: Lost in Masters. Picture: Getty
Adam Scott: Lost in Masters. Picture: Getty

Scott bogeyed his last hole in Sydney last year to lose the Australian Open title to McIlroy, which also cost the Australian a rare sweep of his nation’s three marquee events.

The loss to the now top-ranked Irishman had been a “thorn in his side”, Scott said this week, but the 34-year-old will head to Sydney with confidence after storming home at the Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne to finish joint second, a stroke behind winner Nick Cullen.

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“I felt in good shape coming here and just got knocked around a bit on Thursday with that northerly [wind],” Scott said after referring to an opening round of 73 played in hot, fluky winds that left him playing catch-up.

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“I got a bit out of sorts and it’s taken me a couple of days to kind of get back to where I thought I was. I’ve chipped away at it but I feel like I’m in good shape. Today was definitely the best I’ve swung the club, putted and chipped and did everything well.”

“Hopefully that’ll continue because… I’ve got a feeling [the Australian Golf Club] is going to suit my game a little more,” he added of the Australian Open venue. “I just remember it’s a pretty long, tough golf course, demanding. So that kind of suits me if it’s that way. If I get to hit the driver a bit more, that’s to my advantage.”

Scott started Sunday’s round four strokes adrift and pushed hard with three birdies on the back nine, but a monster putt for birdie on the 18th lipped out, giving compatriot Cullen enough breathing space to clinch the $AU1 million (£554,000) event. “It’s hard to win one tournament, let alone three years in a row,” said Scott.

“Defending [last year] was a big thrill for me. But it is very difficult to just show up and you’re going to win every year. It doesn’t happen very much.

“Unfortunately I think Thursday was a bit costly for me. I was playing a bit better than that. But it is what it is.”

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