Masters barometer: Scott pushing the needle

Adam Scott had to change to a short putter at the start of 2016 due to R&A regulations, but it wasn’t long before the Australian was back to his best. He used an anchored club to win a green jacket at Augusta National in 2013, but this time around he’s got a regular-sized putter in the bag.
While adjusting to the new flat stick he was 158th in strokes gained: putting on the PGA Tour in 2015.
This year the 35-year-old has laid those problems to rest with two victories in as many weeks.
In his last 16 tournament rounds he’s 42-under-par, has shot three rounds of 70 or more, and missed one putt in 186 attempts from three feet.
‘My game came into a really good spot toward the end of last year, and starting this year was really good,’ he said. ‘It was slipping a bit, but I’ve made nice progress, especially on the greens.’
At the Northern Trust Open in mid February he broke 70 is all four of his rounds at Riviera Country Club and tied for second place, one shot behind Bubba Watson. It signalled the start of an incredible run by the Aussie.
A week later at the Honda Classic he ended a two-year title drought with a one-shot victory over Sergio Garcia. Scott rejoined the world’s top 10 and began to blip on The Masters radar.
The following week at the WGC-Cadillac Championship he tamed TPC Blue Monster and overcame a flailing Rory McIlroy to clinch his 13th PGA Tour victory. With the new title he became the most prolific winner under 40 currently competing on American-based tour.
Every stroke counts out there, especially if you’re Scott. In his last three events he has made $15,269 per hole, or $4,037 per shot.
Added to his Masters ammunition is his partnership with Steve Williams. Scott will bump his regular looper David Clark to get Williams on the bag for Augusta National.
‘The plan is set,’ said the world number six. ‘David is doing an amazing job and we are working very well together but you could offer Steve the job to any player in the world for Augusta and they are going to want to take him.’
His memory of playing The Masters with Williams includes a long putter, but that club is a distant memory framed on a wall in somebody else’s house.
‘I actually sent a long putter to (R&A Chief Executive) Peter Dawson for his retirement,’ Scott said. ‘He said he greatly appreciated the gesture… and that he’d put it with all the other obsolete clubs.’
There are a handful of players to watch out for at Augusta National this year – Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler – but the form player at present is Adam Scott.