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He’s blessed with the sweetest of swings, but it was Adam Scott’s heart that kept him in national championship contention during a torrid first round on Thursday at The Australian Golf Club.
As the mercury nudged 40 degrees, Scott could have been excused for fading out of Australian Open sight after racking up two double-bogeys in three holes on the front nine to fall to three over par.
“All was going nicely and then, in the space of three holes, you have to not think the wheels have fallen off,” he said.
“In tough conditions like this, your bad stuff happens in patches like this. I absolutely pride myself on grinding it out. If I don’t, (caddie) Steve (Williams) will make sure I do.
Instead of falling apart, Scott was left feeling upbeat following a miraculous chip-in, after he’d blasted a bunker shot over the ninth green and into the water, saved him from total disaster.
The six on the par four – instead of an ugly eight – was a game changer for the 2013 Masters champion.
“Sometimes you get those feelings that are important parts in a round or tournament,” Scott said.
“More often than not, you hope those important ones are when you are coming down the stretch and you’re a chance to win, not when you’re looking at making an eight on a par four.
“But it is important to scramble. I was just trying to give myself time and hit the best chip I could.
“I hit a really nice chip and it went in. I walked to the 10th tee kind of with my head held high after making a double. That’s a good feeling.”
Scott picked up three birdies on the back nine, including a fine up-and-down from the sand on the last to feel confident of working his way back into the 100th Open on Friday.
“Even though I made some mistakes, I can come out and have a good front nine tomorrow and I will be right on the front foot again,” he said.
“A good round tomorrow and I’m back in it.”