Scott plays way better than he feels

2008-04-03

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By John RegerPA-SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HUMBLE, Texas (Ticker) Not that the fifth-ranked golfer in theworld needed another advantage, but if the adage of ''Beware ofthe sick golfer'' is true, Adam Scott has added another weapon tohis arsenal this week.

The Australian got done with his course-record tying roundThursday in the first round of the Houston Open and didn''t evenhave the strength to do anything more than smile when askedabout it.

Glands swollen, throat sore, a little fever, that all led thedoctor to hint at strep throat. It was not exactly the news atop golfer wants to hear as he attempts to defend a title andprepare for the tour''s first major championship next week.

Diagnosis aside, if he has rounds like his first one at RedstoneGolf Club on Thursday, Scott may skip any medical treatment forthe next couple of weeks.

Scott shot a bogey-free 63 and was happy with his first roundsince finishing tied for ninth at the World Golf Championshipevent at Doral two weeks ago.

"I''d like to stay like this for about another two weeks, thatwould be good," Scott joked about his illness. "Maybe Ishouldn''t get the antibiotics."

Of course 63 swings is a lot less than 72 and any energy Scottcan conserve before Augusta National would be welcomed.

While Scott has mastered the Houston Open, winning last year hisfirst time on this golf course, he has struggled at AugustaNational. The previous two years Scott finished tied for 27th,and tied for 33rd with a missed cut preceding that.

Even if Scott wasn''t the defending champion, he would be hereand one of the main reasons is how much the course has been setup to emulate the conditions at Augusta. The greens are fast andthe rough cut back.

So a little virus wasn''t going to keep Scott from Houston, nomatter how bad he felt.

"I didn''t feel like getting out of bed, to be honest," Scottsaid. "Pretty lousy, but certainly once I got going a little bitand felt better."

Scott never really considered withdrawing, though.

"I could have, but I just don''t like withdrawing fromtournaments," Scott said. "I''ve only done it once in my careerand I was pretty bad that day. I wanted to at least get outthere and see how I was going."

If Scott did withdraw, he would not have seen the work he hasput in on the practice greens pay off. He had six one-putts inthe first round, including putts of 55, 27 and 20 feet forbirdie.

"It''s been a little more consistent," Scott said. "Just frompracticing a little bit more this week, this year, working onit. I putted really well at Doral. That was a good sign."

The progress with Scott''s putter was evident at the beginning ofthe season. Two years ago he finished 64th on tour in puttingand went about to correct that perceived flaw in his game. Lastyear he finished 21st on tour in putting and so far this year heis 18th.

"I''m hitting more good putts, and sometimes they go in,sometimes they don''t," Scott said. "But it''s nice to know thatyou''re hitting more good putts, more of a chance to go in."

Scott hopes the putting translates this week as well as nextweek.

"The game is in good shape," Scott said. "I feel fairlyconfident with it."

Now all Scott needs to do is get healthy again. Or as he provedThursday, maybe it''s better if he isn''t 100 percent.