Ponte Vedre, Florida ….
Adam Scott has returned to using his original long putter in the goal of qualifying for next month’s U.S. Open and also returning to the pointed end of the World Rankings.
The 37-year old Australian has slipped to World No. 71 and with the top-60 in the world as late as June 11th qualifying automatically for the June 14th commencing Major at Shinnecock Hills on New York’s Long Island.
Adam Scott has gone back to his first long putter, and the putter he used to capture the 2011 WGC – Bridgestone to curk his slide down the World Ranking and also qualify for next month’s US Open.
As well, Scott’s five-year exemption in winning the 2013 Masters ended last year.
Scott has competed in every U.S. Open since making his debut in 2002 at Bethpage Park and also on Long Island.
But a progression of poor performances since securing third place in the 2016 end-of-season Australian PGA Championship has seen Scott slowly slip down the World Rankings.
Scott went into 2017 ranked No. 7 in the world but ended the year ranked No. 31 and then after missing the cut in the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and a first PGA Tour event of 2018, Scott found himself ranked No. 51.
It was the first occasion since capturing the 2009 Australian Open and moving from World No. 55 to No. 34 in the world Scott had not been inside the top-50.
In contrast, Scott had been the game’s best in moving to No. 1 in May 2014 by capturing the PGA Tour’s Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas and he remained atop of the rankings for a period of 11 weeks.
Scott first turned to a long putter early in 2011 and then in August that year he captured the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
And while Scott has since used two other long putters, and also returned to using a ‘regulation’ putter, he’s arrived at this week’s Players Championship with his career first long putter in the bag.
“It is actually the first long-handled putter I ever used from back in 2011 as I have only used three in my time of using long putters,” he said.
“This one has a bit smaller head and a different weight to the one I finished up using, and if also feels a lot better given it is no longer anchored.
“It is the same length as I had before and it swings much better.
“I won Akron with this putter whereas the putter I won the Masters was the first week I used it, so it’s not the same putter as that this week”.
And while Scott is not qualified for the U.S. Open he’s confident over the next month of curbing his World Ranking slide and this week in an event he won in 2004.
“It is only a couple of good weeks play and the competitor in me is never going to say I can’t do it but I feel like my game is getting to a place where I can put top-10s together and, if not, better results,” he said.
“My attitude is good and while there has been moments of frustration, I have spoiled a lot of my golf by putting balls into the water and taking doubles at inopportune times and they have been momentum killers.
“When your confident isn’t right there and you are fighting to get it back up that’s kind of shattering as it can take 18 holes to work yourself back to the position you were when the tournament is over and you find yourself nowhere again.
“It’s pretty tough out here and with the courses tough and with the guys playing so good you have to be very sharp and I have not been sharp enough.
“I’ve put all the time in believe it or not working on my game and it’s about now letting it happen.
“So, that’s part my decision to go back to my first long putter and also freeing up my mind and just playing some golf.”
