Australia’s Adam Scott confessed he was ‘stirring the pot’ in shipping one of his long-handled putters to the St. Andrews-based rules body, the R & A.
Scott became the first Australian to capture the Masters and in the process used a long-handled putter then anchored against his body.
However, from January 1st this year golf’s two ruling authorities, the R & A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews) and the USGA (United States Golf Association) banned the anchoring of any club to the body.
But while the long-handled putter was not banned Scott, who has clearly struggled with his putting in recent years, elected to return using a normal size putter to avoid any confrontation with the ruling authorities.
In fact, he used a standard-size putter to commence his New Year last week with a stirring second place finish in the Northern Trust Open in suburban L.A.
Adam Scott attempts his birdie on the 7th during the final round of the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne (Photo:Anthony Powter)
And rather than retire the long-handled putter to a dark corner of his Bahamas abode Scott elected to freight one of the many long-handled putters in his possession to Peter Dawson and now recently retired CEO of the R & A at St. Andrews.
“I’ve got a few long-handled putters but then I decided late last year to send one to Peter Dawson for his retirement from the R & A,” said Scott.
“I can’t recall what I wrote on the note to Peter but the good thing is that Peter responded to me saying how he greatly appreciated receiving the putter.
“He said also he would put it with all the other obsolete clubs (laughing).
“I guess I was stirring the pot a little bit in mailing the putter to Peter but I feel as though I also have a great relationship with Peter even though I still disagree what the ruling bodies decided to do with regards to anchoring clubs,
Adam Scott (Aust) misses his putt on the 3rd hole on his way to a double bogey during the opening round of the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits (Photo: Anthony Powter)
“It’s not my jog to bring in new rules but then they are doing what they think is best.”
Knowing the rules on ‘anchoring’ any club would be changed from the start of this year, Scott has dabbled with a variety of putters.
And if there is one benefit of re-instating a normal length putter to the Australian’s golf bag then it’s the benefit of being able to travel with his clubs with a lot less stress.
“My golf bag now fits in the car better so there’s no more stress about my long-handled putter getting bent as was the case before,” he said laughing.
Scott was speaking after posting an even par 70 on the opening day of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
And in heading into his 16th season in the professional ranks Scott again finds himself again in good early season form.
Aside from his near victory less than a week ago, the now 35-year old Scott has a history of winning early on in a New Year including four early season victories on the European Tour, and among those a pair of Qatar Masters titles.
As well, Scott captured the 2005 Nissan Open (and now the Northern Trust Open) and the 2007 Shell Houston Open and with both PGA Tour victories before the staging of the Masters.
“Playing well and also enjoying success at the start of a New Year just relaxes you for that whole year and for whatever reason we always treat a year in blocks,” he said.
“Starting well early in the year just seems to put me in a good frame of mind and there’s also the general confidence of winning.
“So on top of going so close last week in the Northern Trust to get a win up early this year before heading to Augusta would be huge for me.”
