Adam Scott seeks second green jacket, leans on Cameron Smith for short game advice
Evin Priest
Augusta, Georgia: The pleasure of turning into Australia’s first Masters champion hasn’t worn off for Adam Scott, 13 years on from his historic triumph and a quarter-century after making his debut at Augusta National.
Scott, 45 and enjoying his twenty fifth Masters, gave this masthead a glance inside a pre-tournament schedule that would solely be described as per week for the ages.
It started final Wednesday, when Scott flew to Augusta for the day from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for a scouting report with good mate Cameron Smith. The 32-year-old relies in Ponte Vedra, whereas Scott was staying on the town to apply at PGA Tour headquarters at TPC Sawgrass forward of the 12 months’s first main.
You might think about what Australian sports activities followers would have been given to be a fly on the wall that day.
“That’s exactly how I was looking at it,” Scott tells this masthead. “To have a day at Augusta National when it’s calm [no crowds]you’ve got to go there [before Masters week].”
A day journey to Augusta the week earlier than the Masters was one thing Scott hadn’t finished in 15 years. “It was an epic day,” Scott mentioned. “Bright blue skies, sun shining, the flowers in full bloom. It was as vibrant as I’ve ever seen it. The day really got my head into what’s going to happen this week.”
Smith and Scott are half of Australia’s Masters contingent alongside Jason Day and the nation’s top-ranked male, Min Woo Lee.
Scott tried to drink from the fountain of youth, watching intently the short game of Smith, who gained the a hundred and fiftieth Open at St Andrews in 2022. From 100 meters or much less, the Brisbane native is likely one of the world’s finest.
“We did a lot of pitching around the greens,” mentioned Scott, whose lengthy game has been stellar this PGA Tour season whereas his short game has struggled. “Getting to watch Cam Smith pitch around the greens at Augusta is like any golfer’s dream, really. The guy is unbelievable with a wedge in his hand, so just seeing how he approached different shots and the way he executes them was motivating, inspiring.”
Scott then arrived at Augusta National on Sunday to kick off an annual custom for Masters week. As a previous champion, he’s allowed to deliver a visitor. Scott’s father, membership professional and course designer Phil Scott, as soon as once more teed up at Augusta together with his major-winning son.
“It’s a special moment we get to share; it’s a huge perk of being a champion,” Scott mentioned.
After nine-hole apply rounds on Monday and Tuesday, the 14-time PGA Tour winner will move the Masters household perks all the way down to a technology of Scotts.
“I had never really been a big Wednesday Par 3 Tournament guy. However, having my daughter [Bo Vera] caddie for me a couple of years ago was special, and now my middle son [Byron] is going to caddy this year.
“When [Byron] got to Florida last month and was around the golf at TPC [Sawgrass]he was straight back into it and wants to golf every day.”
Other Masters festivities for Scott embody a seat on the annual and ultra-exclusive champion’s dinner on Tuesday night time, which shall be hosted by newcomer Rory McIlroy.
But Scott can also be at Augusta to do a job; to understand his dream of being a a number of main champion. Although he hasn’t gained a 72-hole event in six years, Scott’s energy and pace are corresponding to the bashful mid-20s golfers on the PGA Tour.
His ball pace with the motive force measures nearly 305 km/h, and his clubhead pace of 198 km/h ranks seventeenth on the PGA Tour. He ranks forty second and fourth on the PGA Tour, respectively, for driving and iron play.
Scott’s outcomes have been strong however not superb, together with a fourth place on the elite Genesis Invitational at Riviera, and a share of eleventh on the brutal Bay Hill course in March. Recently, he was within the combine on the Houston Open and shared twenty first place.
“Gone [feel confident]; I had three good rounds at Houston but struggled on Sunday,” he said. “I’ve been tested in all the areas I need to be ready for Augusta. The biggest thing, and it’s always helpful at a major, is my iron play has been incredibly consistent this year and that’s a big change from the last few years.”
Physically, iron play is essential at Augusta National given its greens have extreme contours that make long putts difficult. Mentally, Scott knows the Masters requires a balance of intensity and stopping to smell the azaleas, so to speak. Recently, Scott began using the champions locker room a little more.
“Once a day, I like to sit up in the champion’s locker room with the [green] jacket on and have one drink,” he mentioned. “It’s nice, especially if there’s someone else in there, but I’m not afraid to do that on my own either [laughs].
“It’s a particular place and a success. You’re there to win once more, hopefully, but it surely’s good to permit your self a second to only be ok with your self and what you probably did there.”
