With the US Masters just over two weeks away, there are question marks lingering over the health of Tiger Woods and whether Adam Scott can go back-to-back. The answers to both are a wait and see proposition.
Regardless, both will be headline acts when the first round kicks off on Thursday 8 April.
Since last year’s win, Adam Scott has been the most consistent player on the tour, with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson his main rival.
After two rounds at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it was a matter of Adam Scott by how many shots, and what odds he would be to go back-to-back at Augusta. But after posting 14-under across the first two rounds he struggled over the weekend, posting a 71 and 76 to end up finish third with 11-under behind winner Matt Every.
The choker tag was quickly thrown up, which was a clear overreaction. Had Scott posted his opening round 62 on Sunday not Thursday, people would be tagging him as white hot.
Despite his weekend failure, Scott deserves to head to Augusta in two weeks as the man to beat for three simple reasons.
All round game
You don’t win the Masters unless you hit fairways, hit greens in the right position, scramble and make putts.
Scott showed last year that he is the best player from tee to green, and his putting was the difference compared to previous years. On Sunday he made every putt that needed to be holed, particularly on the 18th and second playoff hole.
This year he ranks second in overall average, which takes in to account driving accuracy, greens in regulation, putting strokes gained, birdie average and sand saves.
He ranks number one for GIR percentage from 75-100 yards, which is key on both the par-fives and any holes in which a fairway is missed. He is also at 75 percent from 100-125 yards and 81 percent from 125-150 yards.
Augusta offers players four makeable birdies on the par-fives and Scott sits at second on the par-five birdie or better rankings.
To win a major you need to make the cut, and no one does this better than Scott. He has made 31 consecutive cuts across all tournaments, and has not missed a cut at the majors since the 2011 US Open.
Experience
Augusta is unlike any golf course. It looks flat on TV, but you only appreciate its inclines and slopes when you are experiencing its beauty firsthand. Players often get caught a club short, and with front bunkers there to catch these approaches, the reliance on bunker play becomes vital.
The greens have a way of drawing you to the pin, though you often have to play away from the pin to get it close. The 16th on Sunday is one that requires this play.
The other aspect is the caddie. Steve Williams is the man that all players would want on their bag on the final 18 holes come Sunday. The Kiwi knows the Augusta layout like the back of his hand and with this potentially being his swan song, he will be wanting to win as much as Scott.
His experience and course knowledge was vital on the second playoff hole putt last year. Without this knowledge, Scott may have had to come back the following day and the result may have been different.
Mental State
The key to winning a major is having belief. Scott heads to Augusta knowing he can win and believing he can win.
Despite last weekend’s final round performance, Scott knows that his best is better than anyone else, highlighted by his 62 in the opening round.
The broomstick putter that has served him so well went missing at crucial stages on Sunday, but this will only make him more determined and focused in the lead up.
This year he has only three-putted nine times out of 360 holes, so there should be no demons over short putts – his 98 percent success rate from within five feet speaks for itself.
A recent Steve Williams interview on The Golf Show highlighted how his relationship with Scott has always been a work in progress. But after breaking through last year, there is a sense that every major could end up with a W besides Scott’s name.
After ending a 77-year Australian drought, Scott has the chance to go back-to-back. If he is there come the weekend, there could very well be another “C’mon Aussie!” scream of joy.
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