Panamus, New Jersey …
A clearly re-energised Adam Scott joked after a sizzling Northern Trust second round 64 the presence of a standard-size putter in his golf bag has shocked his longer version putter into action
The Australian recorded just 26 putts in using the long-handled putter on route to eight birdies and just the lone bogey and what is the lowest round all week on the rain-softened Ridgewood Country Club course
Adam Scott clearly delighted to have shot a 64 on day two of the Northern Trust. (Photo @tourmiss)
Scott ignited hopes of a first victory since capturing the 2016 WGC – Cadillac Championship in moving into third place on nine-under and just one shot behind the American leading duo of triple Major winning Brooks Koepka (65) and Jamie Lovemark (66).
Koepka, and competing in a first event since his PGA Championship triumph, eagled his 14th and then birdied his clsoing three holes.
Dustin Johnson, the Northern Trust defending champion, along with being the World and current FedEx Cup No. 1, looms large at eight-under in posting a four-under 67 and this after commencing his round with a triple-bogey ‘7’.
Scott has been seen practicing since the recent WGC – Bridgestone Invitaional using the standard-size putter but then strangely, and also to the surprise of some of his playing colleagues and caddies, leaving that putter in his bag and using a long-handled putter in competition.
The now 38-year old, of course, is remembered for using a long-handled putter in 2013 to become the first Australian in 70-years to win the Masters.
However, since the addition of a second putter into his bag at the expense of either a 2-iron, 3-iron and/or 4-iron, and as he is allowed under the Rules of Golf, Scott revealed he’s only used the shorter putter in now 12 rounds of competition.
“The presence of the small putter in my bag has clearly scared the longer one into action,” he joked.
“The idea was to use the short putter on some really long putts and sort of make it easier for me in putting, and I am talking about something like 20-footers as I have been struggling with the longer putter to make the 20-footers.
“So, I have been working really hard in practice using the short putter but then in saying that I haven’t had to use it much and as I said I think I’ve scared the life out of the long putter to perform a bit better and as we saw today on the greens here at Ridgewood.
“The short putter looks lonely sitting there in the bad and like it’s looking at me everytime I need to putt and sort of saying: ‘Like, when am I going to have a turn’ (laughing).”
What has also delighted the winner of 29 tournaments around the globe was his over-due return to form as evident with his rousing third place result in last fortnight’s PGA Championship in St. Louis. and Scott’s best finish in a Major since sharing fourth place in the 2015 U.S. Open.
“I am very comfortable being back in contention,” he said.
“I was partially surprised how good I felt Sunday of the PGA, especially late on the back nine because I haven’t been there for awhile, and you’re never sure, but it was really great. It felt like that’s where I’m meant to be and I played really well in that situation I thought.
“So, that certainly gave me a taste of it, and made me a little more hungry. It’s been good to play my way into it for the weekend. Tomorrow is another big day and I’d like to have another taste of it on Sunday.”
