[Photo: Getty images]
Adam Scott says a recent cooling down from a hot seven months is of little concern as he looks to finalise his preparations for the Masters at this week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
The world No.52 had been enjoying a purple patch since last November, when he rattled off four consecutive top 10s worldwide. He began 2024 by earning a T7 the elite Dubai Desert Classic in January and a T8 at the WM Phoenix Open in February. Since a T19 at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles, Scott has a missed cut at at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a disappointing T45 at the Players Championship during the 20th anniversary of his 2004 win at TPC Sawgrass.
With the Masters kicking off April 7, next Thursday, Scott says a week of hard practice prior to the Valero Texas Open left him confident of finding form at TPC San Antonio in time for Augusta National.
“I was playing pretty nicely on the west coast, although I didn’t putt my best for the first time in a while, and then I had a pretty flat couple weeks in Florida, just wasn’t on my game at all there,” he said. “Nothing that I’m concerned about at all. I had a nice practice week last week. I feel like even playing nine holes today, I feel very confident and comfortable with where my swing is at and every part of my game. So I’m looking forward to getting going this week and hopefully having a good week and building up some confidence to go into next week and have another great week.”
Scott chose not to go to Augusta pre-tournament for the first time in years, having usually played a scouting round in the lead up to the Masters. He’s changing up his approach and teeing up in an elite field at TPC San Antonio featuring Rory McIlroy.
“Having the structure of a tournament this week leading into the Masters I think was good, especially coming off some pretty average results the last couple of tournaments, so looking for better here this week,” Scott said. “But as much as we all think about next week, I’m here, I want a good result. I’d like to win a trophy, that’s still what I’m trying to do out here. It’s been a long time since I have lifted a trophy. I feel like my game is in that place where it could turn any week. It’s all there, I need to somehow put myself in that position and make a putt at the right time and get back in that spot.
“I didn’t [go to Augusta for a scouting round]. Most years I do but I don’t have tons of time just to float up there and I thought it wasn’t the big priority for me leading into this Masters, I think. I’ve played there a lot. I know they changed the [par 5] second and I know they’ve relaid a couple greens, but I think I can go in there at this point feeling pretty comfortable and should be confident that I know the golf course well enough on a couple practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Scott is one of three Australians in the field at TPC San Antonio, joining Sydney native Harrison Endycott and veteran Aaron Baddeley.
At next week’s Masters, Scott will be one of six Australians teeing up alongside major winners Cameron Smith and Jason Day, as well as Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee and amateur Jasper Stubbs, who gained an invitation by winning the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne in October.
