Adam Scott has promised to be a ‘red hot putter’ by the time he arrives at Augusta National for the April 9th commencing Masters.
But firstly Scott will take his Odyssey White Ice Core #7 putter on to this week’s Valspar Championship after a seemingly effortless transition from his broomstick winning 2013 Masters putter to a conventional length club.
Scott, and competing in his first event of 2015, posted a final round 71 to share fourth place on fourth place with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (72) in the WGC – Cadillac Championship.
Adam Scott promised to be a ‘red hot putter’ by the the time he returns to Augusta after using his Odyssey White Ice Core #7 to share 4th place in the WGC – Cadillac Championship. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
The duo ended the first big showdown of the new season five strokes adrift of new World No. 6 Dustin Johnson who bounced back to winning form in stunning style in coming from five shots behind to the last day and capture a second straight WGC title, as well as a ninth PGA Tour success, with a closing day 69 for a nine-under par total.
“This win means everything as it’s been a tough road so I’m delighted,” he said.
“But there has been some great things that have happened to me since I’ve been away including the birth of my son and with me and Paulina doing great.
“So it just feels awesome to get that W up today as I played great.
“I knew I was really good but then I knew there was something missing that could make me really great, and I’ve really been working hard on that aspect of my game and it’s showing now.”
Johnson shocked the golf world last August, and a few days after missing the cut in the Canadian Open, by announcing he was taking a self-imposed break from the game and with social media going overboard in suggesting he had been suspended for possible drug use but something the PGA Tour quickly denied.
And while missing out on competing in the Ryder Cup during his absence, it was no surprise Johnson should remark this win was particularly special.
“All of my wins have been good but this one might be the best for sure,” he said.
“It’s tough … I am just so excited right now I can hardly talk but it feels great and this one by far the best one.”
Scott also was delighted to have finished so high up in his opening event of 2015 and like Johnson is returning to competition for a first time as a new father following the birth of a daughter Bo.
“There’s a lot of good stuff. Certainly you can out full of rust and not competitive. There was plenty of good stuff and I think I can really tighten a few things up,” said Scott.
“But I was really happy with the way I took my game out of a break and back into play and certainly made my share of putts this week, which felt good switching back to a shorter putter.”
A check of Scott’s putting stats for the week reveals he had 27 putts on both Thursday and Friday and then 30 putts over each of the two weekend rounds.
And that is enough to instill in Scott the confidence to use the same Odyssey putter in competition at the Innsbrook Resort course in Tampa Bay later this week.
“Yeah, I’m very happy with what I saw out there as I made plenty of putts,” he said. “The greens were beautiful, so you want to, felt like I started the year off on the right foot. Hopefully I can build on this and just get better.
“So I will take this putter onto Tampa and that’s the plan. I think I putted very well overall and feel very comfortable with where I’m at with it. I’ve got to test it the next couple weeks again, and hopefully it keeps improving and I’ll be a red‐hot putter by the Masters.”
