Adam Scott will hope to carry his Masters Sunday form into this week’s Ballantine’s Championship at Blackstone Golf Club in Korea as he looks to capture yet another tournament title in Asia.
The 31 year old Australian has eight European Tour wins to his credit already and included in that number are triumphs in China and Singapore as well as a double success in Qatar. Now the World Number 12 is looking to add to his golfing CV with Ballantine’s Championship glory.
“It’s true that I've enjoyed playing in Asia over the years and I have had a certain amount of success which is great,” he said. “I’d love to add Korea to the list of countries that I've won in because this tournament has certainly grown in stature.
“I think that’s shown by the players who have come over here to play so it would be a great honour to win this week, and I hope I've got a chance.”
Certainly if the popular Australian can reproduce the form he showed on the final day of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National earlier this month, then he will be a tough man to discount
After a disappointing opening 75, Scott battled back throughout the remainder of the week and saved the best for last with a closing 66 – a round which included a hole in one at the 16th – to finish in a tie for eighth place.
“I thought my form going into the Masters was good and I felt comfortable with everything,” he said. “But for lots of reasons in the game of golf, it didn't quite happen the first three days at Augusta and then I managed to put it all together on Sunday.
“So I was pleased with that finish, because I probably would have been a little disappointed in my efforts and the work I had done if I did not finish so high up.
“That is why this week is so important for me week to keep my form coming out of the Masters going heading into the rest of the season. I've come over here to get myself in contention, and see where my game is at.”
“I feel confident. I've enjoyed playing the golf course so far, and hopefully we get to play the whole course today and I get a little more familiar with it, because I think there are a few interesting parts to the greens that a little knowledge of them will certainly help me later in the week.”
Although one of the longest hitters when he first turned professional a decade ago, Scott admitted that while time has caught up with him in that regard, he intended to use other tools at his disposal to challenge for the €367,500 first prize.
“I'm definitely not as long as some guys out there now, they hit the ball so far,” he said. “But I think with my experience, I've learned to control my distance and accuracy and finding a balance.
“But this week, it's a very long golf course and I think there are times on the course where you can maybe take advantage of your distance but not every hole. There's a lot of trouble off the tee if you're not hitting the ball straight.
“So I have to pick my moments carefully and hopefully driving it straight here, I think will provide a lot of opportunities hitting into these greens. It's not just about hitting it far this week. This course demands more than that.”
