Adam Scott is hoping to live up to his favourite tag as he searches for more competitive reps in his Masters preparations.
Scott lines up this week at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course in Tampa as a short-price favourite on the US PGA tour while countryman John Senden defends the title he won spectacularly last year.
Scott, now world No.4 after a tie for fourth at the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship last week in his return after a two-and-a-half month layoff, is looking to reclaim the competitive edge he lost during his break.
With his usual sublime shot-making hardly missing a beat and his change to a short putter for the first time in four years actually improving his putting statistics, the Queenslander says it’s now all about getting his game “back-nine Sunday” ready.
The 2013 Masters champion wants to head to Magnolia Lane in a month confident his game can compete under the gun.
“I think it’s a good little stretch for me to challenge myself into a bit of form into Augusta,” Scott said ahead of likely tee ups also at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and possibly the Texas Open.
“I need to play. I need to be in that competitive form and last week was a good chance but maybe lack of competition just didn’t get me over the line on the back nine.
“This week I’m going to have to stay patient. It’s a little tighter golf course and I’ll just really have to rein it in and challenge the swing a little bit.
“The next few weeks are about getting a bit of form going and hopefully be good for Augusta.”
Senden, who claimed his second US PGA career win a year ago, almost eight years after the first, is quietly confident of a repeat effort.
He also has two runner-up finishes at Innisbrook and can draw on the fact it was his short game, including a chip-in on the 16th on Sunday, that helped him seal the deal.
“It is exciting turning up and knowing I can get it done,” Senden said.
“I love the golf course. It is challenging and it asks you to bring your best, so I’m excited to be able to play knowing I don’t need to fear it.
“It came down to believing in my short game and that belief helped me to a career year.
“A lot of years I had been playing over here and striking it so well but not getting enough from my game, but I finally realised to switch on the belief across my game and know I can beat these guys.
“For it to happen really solidified my thinking.”
While his tie for 31st at the WGC event last week might not look great on paper, the reality is just one hole at Trump Doral derailed an otherwise impressive week.
Senden was nine-over on the par-3 ninth in his four rounds but six under on the remaining holes.
Robert Allenby, Steven Bowditch, Marc Leishman, Greg Chalmers and Rod Pampling are also in the field.
