Aaron Baddeley insists he’s not ‘defending’ at Riviera Country Club, but the reigning champion is certainly poised to go back-to-back.
Baddeley kick-started a resurgence in his golfing career when he captured the Northern Trust Open 12 months ago, helping him to a sensational 2011 season.
Showing great poise after a few lean seasons, Baddeley came from behind early in the final round to overtake crowd favourite Fred Couples and held off a challenge from Vijay Singh.
The Victorian moved up 228 places in the world rankings over the course of 2011 and finds himself entrenched in the top 50 at No.44.
He returns to Los Angeles full of confidence following a fourth place finish last week at Pebble Beach, eerily similar to his T6 finish there last year.
“My season has the same appearance as last year with the nice finish last week,” Baddeley admitted.
“I feel like my game has been building all year which is very similar to last year. I have been playing well but not necessarily scoring, but last week gives me some nice momentum.
“Hopefully now I can do the same thing as last year and win this tournament.”
A win on the US Tour brings extra attention, extra responsibilities and, of course, extra expectation but Baddeley insists he won’t let last year’s result dominate his thought process.
“It’s always great going back to where you’ve won before because you have great memories of shots you hit and putts you made,” he said.
“But one of the best pieces of advice Lynchy (coach Dale Lynch) gave me way back after my first Aussie Open win was that you’re not ‘defending’ because you have already won the tournament and they can’t take it off you.
“This is just another tournament and that is the attitude I am taking into the week, otherwise you can end up with expectations that are too high.
“I have to temper those, keep them in check, and go through the process of one shot at a time.”
Riviera Country Club, nicknamed Hogan’s Alley after Ben Hogan won in 1947 and 1948 twice (one a US Open), has been kind to Australians in recent times.
Along with Baddeley’s win in 2011, Robert Allenby won the event in 2001, Adam Scott triumphed in 2005 and Steve Elkington won the 1995 US PGA Championship on the same track.
“It’s a great place,” Baddeley explains.
“I haven’t missed this event and it’s now 10 years straight because it is such a great place with an incredible golf history.
“Maybe it’s the eucalypts – it has the Aussie smell to it. But seriously, we might do well because it’s a ‘players’ golf course.
“You have to hit all different shots – you can’t be one dimensional. It takes fades and draws off the tee; it takes accurate irons and good putting. It just takes an all-round game and I think Australian golf courses breed that in players.”
The event is star-studded, headed by the world No.1 Luke Donald and features 11 Australians, including the country’s seven best.
Fellow top 100 players Adam Scott, Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Greg Chalmers and Robert Allenby join Baddeley while Jarrod Lyle, Marc Leishman, Stuart Appleby and Mat Goggin are also in the field.
