2016 MASTERS: Complementing goals define Scott and Day’s ambitions

BY STEVE KEIPERT AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL

ADAM Scott and Jason Day not only represent Australia’s primary hopes of winning the 2016 Masters, each man wants what the other already has.

Scott seeks to be World No.1 again and Day hopes to wear the same green jacket Scott owns. As such, they represent two compellingly different mindsets approaching this year’s tournament. The pair of Queenslanders reside among the favourites this week with their complementing motivations. Scott famously won the Masters three years ago, partially at Day’s expense. Either man could have won two years earlier but for Charl Schwartzel’s magical finish. Both know what it takes but only one has scaled the summit.

Jason Day and Adam Scott during practice at Augusta National. Both Australians have high motivations this week. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The two appeared back-to-back in the Masters interview room today, Day first then Scott, and it was clear who had already captured this major and who hadn’t as well as which player was in their mid-30s and who is yet to even reach that decade.

Day spoke of patience; Scott of comfort. Both appeared and sounded relaxed, yet most common ground sits with their respective consecutive victories on the PGA Tour in the past six weeks where, symbolically, Scott got in ahead of Day. While no true rivalry exists between the pair, this Masters will go a long way towards establishing who will finish 2016 with the better season.

Ever the hard worker, Day unsurprisingly talked about his preparation and outlook.

“I just want to make sure I don’t overdo it,” said a wary Day. “And this has been a tournament in the past that I’ve tried too hard and shot myself out of the tournament, so I’ve just got to kind of relax; understand that I have a certain process that I go through each tournament to get ready to compete and I need to stick to that. Don’t do anything more; don’t do anything less, and from there, just try to go out and execute,” Day added before elaborating.

“It’s just maybe looking too much into a shot, overplaying a shot or making things too complicated where they should be simple, and just trying way too hard. It’s more me mentally trying too hard, trying to force and will it in, where it’s OK to relax. I know there’s certain steps I need to take to read putts or get information, or how to execute a golf shot. I’ve just got to through that normal pattern and try to do it that way rather than missing a step or trying mentally too hard.”

Day drives off the 1st tee. He arrived at Augusta last Friday, playing mostly nine-hole practice rounds each day.
PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Scott followed with discussion about trying his best to sustain the form that produced victories at the Honda Classic and WGC–Cadillac Championship.

“There are a lot of factors to take into that,” Scott told Golf Australia. “You have to adjust your preparation a little bit, certainly after finishing second, first, first, there’s a little fatigue of three solid weeks in contention at big events, tough golf courses. It was a grind. I was pushing myself every day just to get up to that right intensity level to try to compete, again, against good fields on pretty tricky golf courses in the next two events.”

ROUND ONE MASTERS TEE-TIMES

They contrast one another, although along similar lines. Day is the meticulous, routine-focused preparer who basks in the glow of sitting atop the world ranking; Scott toils in the background and while comfortable with the attention he draws, clearly doesn’t relish it. If ever the two were at a college party, one suspects Scott would sit quietly on the lounge in the corner while Day might take control of the music – at least until Day arrives wearing the same jacket.

“This is a week where it’s very hard for me not to walk around with a smile on my face,” Scott said. “Coming back into the club is a great feeling. Going up into the champions locker room and sharing a locker with Gary Player is just incredible for me and to share a couple moments with him every week beside our locker. Then all the other guys on top of that, walking out the other side of the clubhouse and seeing this incredible golf arena that’s Augusta National Golf Club.”

Scott acknowledges the time advantage Day has over him, but isn’t looking to call stumps yet.

“It certainly seems like there are only a few players who have been very dominant over 40 years old, and it’s probably going to be harder, too, as the young 20‑somethings are better and better. That’s probably a trend that’s going to continue to happen. My window might not be closing, but it’s not wide open, either.”

Scott talks ‘bar setting’ with the media, referencing the heightened level of play among today’s 20-something golfers. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images

All of which points to the obvious question at this juncture: who has the better chance this week, the man who wants to join the list of champions or the one who’s already there? Their recent dual wins put them in the same place form-wise, so little separates either player there. In the end, the hunger factor could prove the tiebreaker, as will the ratio of and respective reactions to the inevitable good/bad breaks in conditions that might turn fluky.

So if you favour the relaxed, comfortable and nothing-to-lose stance, take Scott. But if you prefer the driven golfer who’s high on the learning curve and buoyed by a sense of destiny, it could be Day’s week. We just hope both men are in the mix come Sunday.

SEEN & HEARD

* THE practice range is always a curious reference point to where players’ games are in the lead-up to any tournament, but perhaps more so at the Masters. Who is hitting balls alone, who has a coach just observing, who has a coach fixing and instructing and who is out with the TrackMan gadgetry in search of either confirmation or answers. Today saw a little of each. David Leadbetter’s time was consumed partly with 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir in a hands-on display. Dustin Johnson went about his practice in the laid-back way one might expect, as did 2009 champ Angel Cabrera. Steven Bowditch hit balls at the end of the range alone for a considerable period, while Henrik Stenson and coach looked at ease with the Swede’s game. Will these approaches provide clues to the eventual champ? Maybe. But the range mindset is always interesting to observe.

Jordan Spieth's Champions dinner menu.

* TUESDAY night in Augusta means the Champions Dinner, an event that highlights the difference between the Masters winner and aspirants. Asked how he needles other players at this event, three-time winner Phil Mickelson chose a Dustin Johnson story involving the dinner. “I always like to ‘rough up’ Dustin. He’s just a great target,” Mickelson said. “We were walking down No.1, and I just said, ‘So, what are your plans tonight?’” He then paused before adding: “Might have been a little too subtle…”

* DURING his media conference, Jason Day referred at one point to the “crowds” on the golf course before immediately catching himself and correcting the term to “patrons”. Even the players choose their words carefully at Augusta National.

* PAUL Azinger never won a Masters but did snare a PGA Championship and is at Augusta this week as part of his American TV commitments. As a near-full interview room waited for Jason Day to arrive, Azinger leaned in to a media colleague, nudged him and with a broad smile said, “Did you used to anticipate my arrival like this?” For the record, Azinger’s best Masters finish in 15 appearances was fifth in 1998.

* AN updated weather forecast sees a 40 percent chance of showers for Thursday’s first round and mostly dry, mild weather for the last three days. The breeze could prove to be the crucial factor in conditions with 20 to 25mph winds forecast for each of Thursday, Friday and Saturday ahead of still weather on Sunday, which points to a potential game of ‘hang on’ for two or three rounds then a weekend shootout.