Date: November 26, 2008
Author: Angus Morgan

Allenby eyeing triple

Coming off a career-best season form-wise on the USPGA Tour, Robert Allenby has set himself to repeat his unprecedented Australian clean-sweep of 2005 by claiming the Masters, the PGA Championship and Open titles over the next three weeks. “Not to be greedy, but I am here to try to win all three,” said a matter-of-fact Allenby at Huntingdale on Wednesday. “I&aposve done it before and I know I can do it again.” “I can only control myself and I know what I can do and if I do it to the best of my ability I know I can win by a long way.” “The direction that I&aposm going, I know only good things are going to happen and if I keep moving ahead the way I&aposm thinking, I can create probably anything.” Allenby is the only player in the Masters field this week who could make such a declaration and not risk having it dismissed as braggadocio. His case is strengthened by a nine-under 63 in Wednesday&aposs pro-am, which suggests he&aposs managed to retain the outstanding form which helped him to make 27 cuts from 28 starts and US$3.6 million in prizemoney on the USPGA Tour in 2008. “It&aposs been the best year I&aposve had on tour out of all my years, but without a victory,” Allenby said. “In several tournaments this year, maybe three or four of them, I should have won, but didn&apost.” “That&aposs golf and you&aposve got to accept it.” Looking relaxed and at ease, Allenby credits hard work on the lower half of his body for being &apospain-free&apos in his hips and knees which, if he can stay that way, will keep him near the top of the rankings, he expects, for the next decade. The 37-year-old also said that being able to stay in the moment had helped him to get the best out of himself. Quizzed about John Daly&aposs participation at Huntingdale this week, Allenby said: “I don t really care who&aposs in the field, as long as I beat him.” “I don t need a win. I&aposve had a great year. I don t need to come out here and win,” he said. “But I know I&aposm playing well-enough to win and with the way I played today around this golf course if I shoot four rounds of nine-under, I&aposll be doing pretty good.”