Adam Scott – file image Australian Golf Media
The Valero Texas Open is the last PGA Tour event ahead of next week’s Masters Tournament but only Adam Scott amongst the six Australians in the field for next week’s first major of the year will play this week’s event.
Scott has regularly changed his schedule ahead of majors, trying to find the perfect means of preparing for the events he considers the most important in the latter stages of his career and this week is no exception.
A former winner of the event in 2010, Scott has not played the Valero Texas Open since 2018 and, in fact, has played only once in the past 12 years but he is keen to rekindle some good memories ahead of next week’s task.
“Yeah, it’s nice to be back,” said Scott in today’s media conference. “I haven’t played a lot here over the last several years, really since I won and defended I don’t think I’ve had many appearances here.
“But it is nice to come back, nice to remind myself when I see myself with a trophy in the clubhouse and stuff like that that there’s some good golf in there and hopefully I find myself playing some good golf here this week leading into Augusta. Obviously on everyone’s mind.”
Scott has mixed from this to date this season but appears happy with where things are heading into this week.
“As much as we all think about next week, I’m here, I want a good result. I’d like to win a trophy, that’s still what I’m trying to do out here. It’s been a long time since I have lifted a trophy. I feel like my game is in that place where it could turn any week. It’s all there, I need to somehow put myself in that position and make a putt at the right time and get back in that spot
“I was playing pretty nicely on the west coast, although I didn’t putt my best for the first time in a while, and then I had a pretty flat couple weeks in Florida, just wasn’t on my game at all there.
“Nothing that I’m concerned about at all. I had a nice practice week last week. I feel like even playing nine holes today, I feel very confident and comfortable with where my swing is at and every part of my game. So I’m looking forward to getting going this week and hopefully having a good week and building up some confidence to go into next week and have another great week.
“I think when I adjusted (his schedule) in the past it was a little bit difficult. I think I’m pretty open to just doing whatever I feel is best now. Juggling lots of different factors at this point in my career, I end up just relying on like a gut instinct of what feels right and what’s not, and it’s even less about does this course suit me and is this the right week to play if I feel like I need to play. I thought this week was a great week for me to play.”
Scott was asked if he had been able to fit in a scouting trip to Augusta ahead of next week and he responded;
“I didn’t. Again, most years I do. I don’t have tons of time just to float up there and I thought it wasn’t the big priority for me leading into this Masters, I think. I’ve played there a lot. I know they changed the second and I know they’ve re-laid a couple of greens, but I think I can go in there at this point feeling pretty comfortable and should be confident that I know the golf course well enough on a couple practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Scott joins fellow Australians Aaron Baddeley and Harrison Endycott and New Zealander Ryan Fox in this week’s field.
