Aussie Adam Scott is determined to end a US stranglehold of PGA Tour victories this season after muscling his way to the lead midway on day two of the Tampa Bay Championship in Florida.
Scott posted a five under par 67 moving to six under par and just one off the lead in the $5.5m event.
All 11 PGA Tour events this year have been won by Stars and Stripes born players, including Tiger Woods who captured last week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship after earlier this won the Farmers Insurance Open.
Aussie Adam Scott looking to break an 11-week USA dominace of 2013 PGA Tour. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It is the longest unbroken run of American domination since 1991 when Welshman Ian Woosnam won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans that ended 11 US wins in a row.
“The American players have certainly had a good start to the year and it would nice if it was me who was winning this week to break that dominance,” said Scott.
“Finishing third last week behind Tiger (Woods) in the Cadillac was a big boost in confidence
“But there is a lot of golf still to be played around this golf course but at least I’ve put myself in a strong position going into the weekend.”
And after letting slip victory in last year’s Open Championship and handing the Claret Jug to good friend Ernie Els, Scott joined Els on his private jet last Tuesday for a practice round on Augusta National.
In contrast to The Open, an Australian has never won at Augusta though Scott was joint runner-up two years ago.
And Scott admitted given the pain of losing last year at Royal Lytham and St. Annes to Els, it continues the healing process given that Els is such a very close friend to the Queenslander.
“I was very happy overall for Ernie to have won The Open last year, and given how well he’s played in his career he could have won 10 Majors,” said Scott.
“And whether or not I may have helped him a little in winning last July, he won it fair and square and it’s eased the pain a little that he is such a close friend to me out here.
“So I could feel some happiness for him.”
