Share
Facebook
Twitter
More
Adam Scott's best putting ranking going into the Masters in 15 years is just one reason Australian fans should be excited about the year's first golf major this week.
The Australian representation at Augusta National is lean, with only Scott, Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith among the 87 players.
But it is the first Masters since 2007 that Australia will field four players ranked within the world's top 30.
It's a promising sign that Scott, the history-making 2013 Masters champion, has his putter working well again - he is ranked 14th on the US PGA Tour for strokes gained in putting.
It is his best rank since he entered the 2004 Masters at 12th in that category.
Scott has used one of golf's 2019 rule changes, which allows players to leave the flagstick in on putts, to his advantage.
He admits the flag can act as a backboard and allow him to hit shorter putts more aggressively, rather than obsess over the break.
The former world No.1 has attributed his form on the greens to reuniting with former coach Brad Malone, the guru who suggested Scott adopt the broomstick putter he used to win at Augusta six years ago.
It is Scott's first Masters with Malone since 2015 and the Englishman has Scott's game in a good place.
"Brad knows how to manipulate me into a good playing frame of mind and that helps me going into the big events," Scott told AAP.
Leishman, however, is the form Australian and the only one of the quartet to have won on the US tour this season.
With a fourth behind Scott at the 2013 Masters and four other top-10s at the majors, Leishman feels it is his time to win on golf's biggest stage.
"I feel I'm ready for that next step," Leishman told reporters on Wednesday. "I'm ready for it; whether it happens or not this week is a different story. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself.
"But my whole game feels good; I'm driving it pretty well and all the tools are there."
As the top Australian at last year's Masters, tied for fifth, Smith also feels ready to give the Masters a shake up.
"Yeah I think so; I definitely won't shy away from contention," Smith said.
"I've been there enough times to know what it's like near the top of the leaderboard and I'm feeling good."
Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, is at the Masters this week and expects his four countrymen to be in contention.
"One hundred per cent, they are all genuine chances to win," Ogilvy said.
"Adam has won it before, Jason has always been in the mix here, and so has 'Leish'. Cam is the new up and comer.
"It would not surprise me to see the Australians go deep in this tournament."
0 comments