Date: July 13, 2012
Author: Omnisport

Scott builds up to Open assault

Australian Adam Scott has declared he must &apostake advantage&apos of his good recent form at The Open Championship in England next week. Since missing the cut at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in May, Scott has improved significantly in his past three starts. The 31-year-old finished tied for 46th and tied for 15th before claiming third at the AT&T National on July 1 and Scott said it was time to claim his first victory of 2012. “I can&apost keep finishing 15th every week, that doesn&apost get me anywhere,” Scott said. “I really need to take advantage of some of my good play and eradicate that one average round.” Scott has finished in the top 10 in three of his past six golf majors. It would have been four but for a three-putt at the final hole of this year&aposs US Open, which saw him drop to a tie for 15th. Speaking from his home in Switzerland on Thursday, Scott said a more majors-focused schedule has been the key to those improved results. “I&aposve been playing a lot more practice rounds prior to the tournament week, which has been good,” Scott said. “Because I feel like I have a much higher level of comfort at the golf course once I tee off (on) Thursday. “I really know what&aposs out there in front of me.” Despite admitting he would like &aposa few months&apos to prepare for Royal Lytham and St Annes, as well as the style of golf required at links courses, Scott believes The Open Championship offers him a great opportunity for his maiden victory at a major. “The great thing about the Open is it&aposs probably the most open tournament there is and we&aposve certainly seen that the last few years,” Scott said. The 31-year-old South Australian plans to play as much golf as he can at Royal Lytham and St Annes this weekend before the tournament starts on July 19. “From what I hear the course is set up quite tough and they&aposve had so much rain that it&aposs very green,” Scott said. “So we might see it play a little slower than in the past and that could certainly suit most people because it will be a little softer (than previous years) and not quite as fast as we&aposre used to. “But with links golf and certainly the way Opens have been the past few years, avoiding bunkers is the real key.”