Adam Scott Ends Putter Conversation with Win at the Honda Classic
- Dan Hauser
- 29 Feb, 2016
When the USGA and the R&A announced that effective January 1st, 2016, the anchored putting stroke would be banned people began to wonder if that would be the end of the likes of Adam Scott, who after switched to the anchored putter method became much more successful on the PGA Tour. Well, just seven full field events into the new putting regime and we already have our first win by one of the old anchor putters after Adam Scott won the Honda Classic at PGA National this weekend.
For Scott, it was the second straight week where he found success on the greens with a short putter after having famously won the 2013 Masters with the broomstick.
“It just reassures me, I’m on the right track with the things I’m doing on the greens obviously and I’m just going to try and get better every week,” Scott said. “And I think it’s in a great spot at the moment. If I can get better and better, then I like what’s to come.”
Scott has had a lot going on in his life as of late, both on and off the course. In addition to having to tinker with his putting style in anticipation of the new rule going into effect, Scott got married in April of 2014, and a year ago he and his wife welcomed their first child. Oh, and he also stopped an almost two year losing streak.
“It’s only been a great transition, though certainly trying at times, trying to balance everything on and off the course,” Scott said. “I’ve had a lot of things changing over the last 12 months, but it’s settling down now. It’s fantastic to feel like we really have everything in the family life under control, with my wife and daughter very happy with everything. We have some idea of what we’re doing.”
That time of year that Scott is referring to is the Masters which is now just six weeks away.
“Obviously, you want to go to the Masters feeling your game is in good shape,” Scott said. “You say results don’t matter, until you get them, and they do matter. Certainly, with the quality of the golf course this week, the quality of the field, I think this was a really good test and reflection for me, where my game’s at. To get a win is definitely confidence. To come and win down the stretch at a course like this, definitely has that major kind of feel, where big questions are asked of your shots, and there’s trouble at every point if you hit a bad one. That’s very much like a major.”
The win was the 12th of Scott’s career and hist first since Steve Williams retired as his full time caddie. Scott also became just the second golfer to ever win a tournament while recording a quadruple bogey during the event, joining Phil Mickelson who recorded a quadruple bogey during his 2008 Tour Championship. Scott though is the first to do it when the quad bogey comes on the weekend after he blew up and hit two straight balls into the water on the 15th hole on Saturday to temporarily relinquish his lead to runner up Sergio Garcia.
For Garcia, it was another almost, and once once again brought back up the question of him as a closer. Despite all the talk, Sergio is taking the positives out of the week.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m happy with my week. I played horrible last week,” he said. “Obviously I played better this week, but everything was like a little cut, a little cut. When I’m swinging well, I can hit cut, draws, everything. I didn’t really feel like my draw was there this week.”
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.
