Houston, TX …

“Houston, we have a problem” with the Masters preparations of Augusta National former champions, Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott along with Open Champion Henrik Stenson askew with all three missing the cut in the Shell Houston Open.

Scott and Spieth, winners at Augusta in 2013 and 2015 respectively, shot rounds of five over par 77s while Stenson jumped straight on the mobile phone to his wife trying to work out his best weekend option in posting a score of 75.

Texas-born Spieth, who had imploded over the final round at last year’s Masters before finishing second, has contested every Houston Open since 2012 and with his previous highest round being a 75 to miss the cut in 2014.

But at two over par there was no chance of Mission Control helping out given Spieth was three shots shy of the likely even par cut-off mark.

Former Shell Houston Open champ Adam Scott misses the cut

“I was a bit rough around the edges in my putting last week in Austin and it was a bit the same this week,” he said.

“And with putting very much a key next week, it’s important considering I didn’t strike it very well last year at Augusta and certainly when I was in position to win.

“So, our plan now is to probably go to Augusta tomorrow (Saturday) night or Sunday morning at this point.

“But there’s no easy missed cut in my mind.

“I’d now like to be there for the drive, chip and putt final as I thought it was a good experience a couple of years ago.”

Scott’s effort is his second highest Houston score in 22 rounds of the event that he also captured in 2007.

The Australian posted a second day 80 in 2003 and a 77 day three round in his debut in 2001, and with a one over par total and two shots shy of the expected even par cut, he also now plans to arrive in Augusta Saturday night (US time).

“I just played really poorly. Got off to a bad start with a 3-putt and a 4-putt and then struggled to put it together to get anything going,” said Scott.

“So, it was pretty disappointing after a fairly solid day yesterday. But, one of those days. Hopefully I can just throw it away and move on to the next week, which is exciting.

Q. How frustrating is it, when we spoke earlier in the week, you talked about a great chance to play, fine-tune some things, and now you’re going to be done after Friday?
ADAM SCOTT: Yeah. You know, obviously going to look at the positives and I’ll be fresh for next week. The weekend weather looks a bit dodgy. Things may work out as good as they can considering it’s a missed cut. I think I saw enough out there, I got some time on the range today and tomorrow, to really come up with my plan for what I’m going to do next week. But you know, pretty off day and poor focus on the golf course. So, hopefully that’s out of the way.

Q. With the shorter week than you expected, how will your plans change, when you’ll head to Augusta, what you’ll do between now and then?
ADAM SCOTT: I’ll probably go in tomorrow night and get out on the golf course on Sunday. An extra day there is not going to hurt. In fact, it will be most enjoyable. Obviously it’s going to be a great week. Hopefully I play a little better than I did today.

And Stenson, who has been second twice and also third in Houston, produced his second highest score in 22 rounds and just one shot fewer than a 76 on day of the 2014 event.