Adam Scott says his driving feels world class again and it couldn’t be better timed as the former Masters champion chases his second Major win at a beefed-up Augusta National.
After spending the majority of his career using Titleist woods, the 2013 Masters winner Scott now has TaylorMade’s Stealth driver and fairway metals in the bag as he joins the PGA Tour arms race for distance.
He’ll need every inch with the driver given Augusta National has added length to holes 11, 15 and 18. That is a move designed to combat gains in distance from PGA Tour big-hitters like 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson, four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and big-bombing Augusta native Luke List among others.
Scott’s coach, Brad Malone, says the former world No.1 has spent several weeks calibrating his new TaylorMade gear and is now seeing the soft draw with the driver – which is usually the bread-and-butter of his game.
“He’s really comfortable now pulling out the draw shot with the driver and it’s particularly helpful here for a right-hander at Augusta National,” Malone told Australian Golf Digest on Monday.
“He won’t hit a draw for every tee shot, but knowing it is there in the arsenal is comforting for him. He’s been swinging the club really well and we’re optimistic.
“I’m really liking what I’m seeing from his long game. But he’s also really sharp in the short game and has been for a few years now. Adam’s putting is now arguably the strongest aspect of his game.”
The 41-year-old Scott agrees. “My driving has been the heartbeat of my game, historically, and I’ve made some changes to get it back to being a weapon for me,” he told AGD.
World No.36 Scott arrives at his 21st Masters in good form. He posted two top-10 results in the Middle East swing of the European Tour to begin 2022, before bagging another two on the PGA Tour – at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles and the WGC-Match Play – leading into the Masters.
“I’ve been playing generally well, and I really like playing here. I’m comfortable at Augusta,” Scott, who is chasing his second Major victory, said on Monday.
“I’ve addressed a few things in my golf game and they are moving in the right direction. At top level, it’s a fine line between contending, winning, and being one of the top players in the world. If I find a nice rhythm out on the golf course this week, there’s no reason why I can’t be right there at the end on Sunday.”
Scott’s PGA Tour statistics reveal what he was trying to address – the driver. Previously one of the best drivers in world golf, the 14-time PGA Tour winner is now ranked 79th on tour for strokes gained off the tee. Not terrible, but there is room for improvement.
He will need to drive it well at Augusta National given the lengthening of key holes on the back nine. The par-4 11th has had the Masters tee moved back 14 metres and to the left, while the fairway has been re-contoured and several trees have been removed on the right. On No.15, the Masters tee was moved back 18m and the fairway has been re-contoured. On the No.18, 12m was added to Masters tee.
But Scott’s iron play (46th on the PGA Tour) and putting (13th) are indications he could contend this week, given Augusta demands its champions work their irons both ways and are comfortable navigating the bold contours on its fast greens.
Scott also acknowledged the added buzz to this Masters courtesy of five-time winner Tiger Woods, who looks set to play despite suffering a significant leg injury in a single-car accident last February.
“It’s exciting there’s the possibility he’s going to play this week,” Scott said of Woods. “I really hope he does play. I think no matter what it would just be epic.”
Scott is joined in the Masters field by countrymen Cam Smith, the world No.6, as well as Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert, Cam Davis and Min Woo Lee.
