Scott to defend Houston Open title

2008-04-02

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HUMBLE, Texas (Ticker) - Adam Scott would love to win his firstmajor championship next week at The Masters, but first he'lllook to defend his Houston Open title.

Among the players on the dreaded best player to have never won amajor list, Scott returns to Redstone Golf Club for the $5.6million event that starts Thursday and is the final tuneupbefore players descend on Augusta National.

Last season, Scott became the sixth Australian to win theHouston Open by posting a three-shot victory over fellow AussieStuart Appleby and Bubba Watson.

Scott won the event on the weekend, shooting a 7-under-par 65in the third round and following it up with a 66 on Sunday. Hehad entered the final round in a five-way tie for second, threestrokes behind Watson.

Scott has not won in three PGA events this season but he didpull off a come-from-behind victory at the Commercialbank QatarMasters on the European Tour with a 61 in the final round.

If Scott is unable to defend his title this week, there will bea good chance that Appleby will be one of the reasons why.

In seven career starts in the event, Appleby has won twice andfinished second twice. In his last three starts at the HoustonOpen, Appleby has finished first (2006) and tied for secondtwice (2005, 2007).

Additionally, in the two years the tournament has been played atThe Tournament Course at Redstone, Appleby is 33-under withseven rounds in the 60s.

"I've played well here. The other course back I think whenFreddie won, I was second there and second last year and won theyear before so, yeah, I've played well here," Appleby said."People ask what is it that brings it here or Houston because Iguess I've won it twice over the years. I'm not really sure.Just seems to be a coincidence, if anything, but I'll be lookingfor some form that I had here when I won in '06."

Joining Scott and Appleby this week is a strong field thatincludes two-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi,Justin Leonard, Steve Stricker and 2006 U.S. Open winner GeoffOgilvy.

Stricker finished third here in 2006 and is glad to be back.

"We're still not able to hit balls or play up in Wisconsin yetso it's still kind of difficult for me to get into tournamentsfeeling totally prepared," he said. "But it's been a good startto the season and look forward to this week and next week atAugusta."