Reigning Masters champ Adam Scott handed Stephen Gallacher an Augusta National practice routine seal of approval.
Gallacher is set to play his first official Masters practice round on the Monday of this year’s opening Major in the company of former winning heroes Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.
At 39-years old, Gallacher will be oldest of the present number of 18 ‘rookies’ set to make their Masters debut and with just two players, Horton Smith at the first-ever Masters in 1934 and fellow American Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 having won on debut in the now traditional first Major of the new season.
Scott stepped onto Augusta National for a first time in 2002 and soon showing his potential in finishing T9th behind Tiger Woods.
Adam Scott screams out ‘C’mon Aussie’ after birding the last on route to Masters winning glory. Now he offers advice to rookie Stephen Gallacher of Scotland.
Last year, Scott ended a 77-year wait to become the first Australian-born player to be fitted with the most sought after item of apparel in all of golf – the famed Augusta National members green jacket.
Now after posting a sizzling 62 on day one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and his final hit out before heading back to Augusta, the ailing Aussie was happy to impart his advice to Gallacher.
“My advice to Stephen is to embrace the week for everything the Masters is as it’s a dream come true for any golfer to get to play Augusta National,” said Scott.
“That was the scenario for me when I made my debut back in ’02 because I can still recall how amazing it was being there at the Masters for a first time.
“Unlike a few of the amateurs who have qualified, I know Stephen a little older so he may not have that many opportunities to get back to the Masters but then in saying that there is no reason why he can’t do good.
“And I like the idea that he’s going to play practice rounds with Sandy and Woosie.
“That’s what I did when I first played there and ever since was to play with Olazabal a lot on practice days which was to amazing. I did a lot of watching and observing but I also picked his brain a lot about how to play Augusta around the greens.
“Jose Maria is one of my favourite guys to watch play golf and I was lucky to play plenty of practice rounds with him.
“But my other advice to Stephen is not to go to Augusta thinking that he can win or just to set himself the goal of making the halfway cut because he should really go there thinking about playing each round as it comes.
“And if adopts that manner there is no reason he can’t do well and maybe turn the week into a win.”
Scott warmed-up for his Masters defence with two eagles, seven birdies and just one bogey in his equal lowest round on the PGA and just a shot shy of his all-time career low of a 61 on the final day to capture the 2008 Qatar Masters in Doha.
However the Aussie, who also had just 23 putts, battled a mystery bug that kept him all night ahead of the $US 6.2m event.
“I was up nearly every hour last night and just couldn’t breathe, so this is a real surprise to come out and shoot a 62,” said Scott.
“I’ve got like a mild dose of flu and trying to sleep last night I was just constantly sweating, so hopefully it’s only a 24-hour bug as I was feeling really run down but then I’m starting to flushing out of me.”
Scotland’s Russell Knox celebrated his first visit to ‘Arnie’s event’ with a one under par 71 and with the highlight of the Inverness-born golfer’s round was holing a 10-foot birdie at his 12th hole.
